をDirect object marker
を marks the DIRECT OBJECT: the thing you do an action to (eat it, read it, buy it). It’s used with transitive verbs. You’ll see it constantly with everyday verbs like たべます, のみます, みます, かいます, します. At beginner level, think of を as “(something) + action verb”.
Key points
Quick reminders for how to use it.
- Use を for the thing you eat/drink/watch/read/buy/do.
- Pronunciation: written を but pronounced o when used as a particle.
- Some movement expressions also use を (path/space), but keep it simple in N5: mostly direct objects.
Patterns
Common structures you’ll see.
〜を たべます。
~ o tabemasu.
Eat ~.
〜を のみます。
~ o nomimasu.
Drink ~.
〜を みます。
~ o mimasu.
Watch/see ~.
〜を かいます。
~ o kaimasu.
Buy ~.
まいにち 〜を べんきょうします。
mainichi ~ o benkyou shimasu.
Study ~ every day.
Common mistakes
Watch out for these.
- ×Using に or で instead of を for the object (に/で usually mark place/time/means, not direct object).
- ×Forgetting that を is pronounced o.
- ×Putting を after the verb (particle should come after the object noun, before the verb).
Examples
Real sentences with notes.
パンを たべます。
pan o tabemasu.
I eat bread.
👉 パン is the direct object of たべます.
みずを のみます。
mizu o nomimasu.
I drink water.
👉 みず is the direct object of のみます.
えいがを みます。
eiga o mimasu.
I watch a movie.
👉 えいが is what you watch (object).
ほんを よみます。
hon o yomimasu.
I read a book.
👉 ほん is the object of よみます.
コーヒーを かいます。
koohii o kaimasu.
I buy coffee.
👉 コーヒー is the direct object of かいます.
にほんごを べんきょうします。
nihongo o benkyou shimasu.
I study Japanese.
👉 What you study is the object → を.
バスを まちます。
basu o machimasu.
I wait for the bus.
👉 バス is the object of まちます (wait for).
まどを あけます。
mado o akemasu.
I open the window.
👉 まど is what you open (direct object).