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PARTICLES / MARKERS
On their own, they are meaningless. When given a context, these define the function of the word/phrase/clause before it. Some particles function like prepositions "at", "in", "on", "by", "with", "to", etc.
Many of these particles are similar in meaning, but different in tone, with some carrying negative implications.
In informal language, these particles are often dropped. The context makes the word functions clear.
This list is based on Kodansha's "All About Particles" ISBN 0-87011-954-0. Not all entries and usages have been included.
On with the list.
PARTICLES
- 1. GA
- --subject marker, emphasizes subject only
- 1. ...HENKA GA nai...
...There's no CHANGE... --Majin Boo #42-51-4
- 2. WA
- --topic marker
- 2. Nijuu-nen go ni SENSHI WA, ore hitori shika nokotte inai n' desu...
SPEAKING OF THE FIGHTERS 20 years later, only I remain... --Trunks #28-140-6
**The topic is not necessarily, but may happen to be, identical to the subject
- --used for emphasis
1. SUKOSHI WA atama wo tsukattara dou da.
How about using your head A BIT. --Vegeta #28-50-5
- 3. MO
- --"also"
- 1. PIKKORO-SAN MO iru!!!
PICCOLO-SAN is ALSO here!!! --Gohan #28-69-5
- 2. MINNA MO chanto kizuite 'ta n' da.
EVERYONE ALSO precisely sensed it. --Klilyn #28-69-5
- --"both" or "all" when used after two or more nouns
- 1. KURIRIN-SAN MO CHAOZU-SAN MO ikikaeru koto ga dekiru n' da!!!
BOTH KLILYN-SAN AND CHAOZ-SAN can be revived!!! --Gohan #28-26-2
- --used of an unexpectedly large or small amount
- 4. NO
- --"of", joins two or more nouns together wherein the first qualifies the latter
- 1. MUTEN-ROUSHI NO sangurasu da...
It's MUTEN-ROUSHI'S sunglasses... --Klilyn #28-155-5
- --replaces GA as subject marker in modifying clauses
- 1. Tousan... KAASAN NO itta toori
Father... Just as mother said --Trunks #28-150-5
- 2. Nanchuu TANOMIKATA NO HETA na yatsu ja...
What a POOR guy he is AT BEGGING... Kaioh-Sama #42-169-4
- 3. Ichiban JISHIN NO NAI no wa temee ja nai no ka?
Aren't you the one among all of us who DOESN'T HAVE THE GUTS? --Vegeta #28-157-1
- --nominalizes (turns into a noun) verbs/clauses
- 1. Doushita? Watashi ni ken wo WATASU NO wa kowai ka?
What happened? Are you scared of GIVING me your sword? --Cold-Daioh #28-102-1
- --NO derived from MONO "thing" / "one". As a noun, it can be modified by a verb
- 1. Naku NO wa itsu datte onna na n' da...
The ONE who weeps is always the woman... --Chi-Chi #28-164-3
- 2. Ichiban jishin no nai NO wa temee ja nai no ka?
Aren't you the ONE among all of us who doesn't have the guts? --Vegeta #28-157-1
- 5. WO
- --direct object marker
- 1. Doushita? Watashi ni KEN WO watasu no wa kowai ka?
What happened? Are you scared of giving me your SWORD? --Cold-Daioh #28-102-1
- 2. Anata ni wa SUBETE WO o-hanashi shimasu.
I'll tell you EVERYTHING. --Trunks #28-136-6
- 6. DE
- --"in" / denotes place of action
- --"by" / indicates the instrument by which one does something
- 1. Demo sonna koto wo ii ni TAIMU MASHIN DE kita wake ja nai n' desu...
But, you see, it isn't that I came BY TIME MACHINE to say such things... --Trunks #28-139-1
- --indicates cause
- 7. NI
- --"in" / location marker
- 2. 3-nen-go no 5-gatsu 12-nichi gozen 10-ji goro Minami no Miyako no nansei 9-kiro CHITEN NI aru shima da.
That's an island ON A POINT 9 kms southwest of South City around 10:00 a.m. of May 12 of three years later. --Piccolo #28-156-4
- --"at" / time marker
- 1. Gozen 9-ji NI demo sono shima ni tsukeba yokarou.
It would perhaps be good if we get to that island even AT 9:00 a.m. --Piccolo #28-156-4
- --"to" / indirect object marker
- 1. Doushita? WATASHI NI ken wo watasu no wa kowai ka?
What happened? Are you scared of giving ME your sword? --Cold-Daioh #28-102-1
- 2. ANATA NI wa subete wo o-hanashi shimasu.
I'll tell YOU everything. --Trunks #28-136-6
- --"by" in passive sentences
- 1. OKAASAN NI shikarareru...
I'll be scolded BY MOTHER... --Gohan #28-53-4
- --replaces NA when NA-Adj functions as an adverb
- 1. SHIZUKA NI kiite kure...!
Listen QUIETLY please...! --Yam Cha #28-48-5
- 2. TASHIKA NI nani ka ga kuru...!!
Something's DEFINITELY coming...!! --Yam Cha #28-119-5
- 3. Itsu made mo BAKA-MITAI NI warai-yagatte.
Till when is he gonna laugh LIKE A FOOL? --Vegetto #42-53-3
- 8. E
- --"to" / "towards" / direction marker used with verbs of motion
- 1. San-nen-go no itsu DOKO E ikeba ii n' da?
When and WHERE after three years should we go? --Tenshinhan #28-156-2
- 9. TO
- --"with" / "and"
- 1. Anata wa NEIRU-SAN TO yuugou shita n' desu ne!
You fused WITH NAIL-SAN, right! --Dende #28-25-2
- 2. ORA TO GOHAN TO issho ni shugyou shinee ka?
Won't you practice together WITH ME AND GOHAN? --Gokou #28-161-1
- 10. YA
--"and" / used in an inexhaustive listing
- 11. TO KA
- --"or such"
- 1. Ora to Gohan to issho ni shugyou shinee ka? KUMITE TOKA yaritee shi.
Won't you practice together with us? I want to SPAR OR SOMETHING (and...). --Gokou #28-161-1
- 12. NADO
- --"etc." / "such things" / "what-not"
- NANTE
--"such sort of thing" / "or such"
- NANKA
--"such sort of thing" / "or such"
- 1. GEEMU NANKA ja nai no yo!!!
This isn't A GAME OR SUCH SORT OF THING, you know!!! --Bulma #28-158-1
- 2. ...Da ga koitsu wa kesshite YUME NANKA ja nai zo!
...But this is by no means A DREAM OR ANYTHING OF THAT SORT! --Vegeta #42-168-5
- 13. KA
- --"or"
- --"some-" when attached to a question word
- 1. Tashika ni NANI KA ga kuru...!!
SOMETHING's definitely coming...!! --Yam Cha #28-119-5
- 2. Dende Bejiita ni wa NANI KA KANGAE ga aru rashii.
Dende, Vegeta seems to have SOME PLAN. --Gokou #42-144-2
- 3. Sore made no aida wo sugosu tame DOKO KA yoi TOKORO ni annai shite kudasaran' ka.
Won't you please guide us to SOME good PLACE to spend the time until then. --Chief Muuri #28-52-2
- 14. YORI
- --"than"
- 1. Jaa Omee wa CHIKYUU NO MIRAI YORI Gohan no benkyou no hou ga DAIJI da tte...
So You're saying Gohan's studies is more important THAN EARTH'S FUTURE... --Gokou #28-163-6
- --"from" (formal)
- 15. KARA
- --"from"
- 1. SHITA KARA yondara "Buu" ja nee ka...
If you read it FROM THE BOTTOM, isn't it "Boo"... --Gokou #42-225-2
- 16. MADE
- --"to" / "until"
- 2. ITSU MADE shabette yagaru...
TILL WHEN are they gonna blab? --Vegeta #28-145-1
- --"even" / "to the extent of"
- MADE NI
- --"by the time"
- 17. DAKE
- --"only"
- 1. ...S......SORE DAKE ja nai n' da......
...I......It's not ONLY THAT...... --Yam Cha #28-48-5
- 18. SHIKA
- --"merely"
**Used with Negative verb
- 1. Nijuu-nen go ni senshi wa, ore hitori SHIKA NOKOTTE INAI n' desu...
Speaking of the fighters 20 years later, ONLY I REMAIN... --Trunks #28-140-6
- 19. BAKARI (standard) / BAKASHI / BAKKASHI
- --"solely"
- --just
- **Used with Past
- 1. IKIKAETTA BAKARI de, mata shinu no ka...
I WAS JUST REVIVED, and I'm gonna die again...? --Yam Cha #28-
- 20. NO NI
- --"despite the fact that"
- 1. M-Mou ippunkan wa sugite 'ru NO NI...
One minute has already passed AND YET... --Gokou #42-126-3
- 2. Sono sei de Son-San dake ni au tsumori datta NO NI minna to deatte shimatta shi......
I planned to meet only you, AND YET I ended up meeting everyone and...... --Trunks #28-127-6
DESPITE THE FACT THAT I planned to met only you, I ended up meeting everyone and...... --Trunks #28-127-6
- 21. KUSE NI
- --"despite the fact that" (derogatory)
- -NAGARA
- --"while ..."
- -TARI
- --used in listing actions
**Used with verbs, formed like Past
- SHI
- --used in listing facts leading to one conclusion
- 1. Gohan-Kun wa kaetta hou ga ii wa yo----- Okaasan matte 'ta n' da SHI...
You Gohan-Kun had better go home----- Your mother has been waiting (AND...)... --Bulma #28-53-3
- 2. Ora to Gohan to issho ni shugyou shinee ka? Kumite toka yaritee SHI.
Won't you practice together with us? I want to spar or something (AND...). --Gokou #28-161-1
- TOMO
- TOSHITE
- --"as" / "in the capacity of"
- -BA
- --"if"
**Used with verbs, replacing final -U with -E-BA
**Used with I-Adjectives, replacing final -I with -KERE-BA
- -TARA
- --"if"
**Used with verbs/adjectives, formed like Past
- 22. NARA
- --"if"
- 1. Ikite 'ru n' NARA, nande kaette konai no kashira...
IF he's alive, then I wonder why he hasn't returned... --Bulma #28-56-6
- DEMO
- --"even"
- --"but"
- 1. Wakaranai... ...DEMO nani ka wo takurande iru you datta...
I don't know... ...BUT it seemed like he's planning something... --Gohan #41-175-3
- --"or something" / used of a thing offered or suggested
- -TEMO
- --"even if"
**Used with verbs, formed like TE-Form
- DATTE
- --"even"
- 1. SON-KUN DATTE sou omou desho!? Ne Ne!!
EVEN YOU SON-KUN think so!? Right Right!! --Bulma #28-158-2
- 2. Kekkon shite kara, ISSEN DATTE kaseida koto atta ka!?
Since we married, was there ever a time you bought us EVEN ONE CENT!? --Chi-Chi #28-163-2
- -TATTE
- --"even if"
**Used with verbs, formed like Past
- 1. Buu ga aite ja IKURA CHOTTO-ZUTSU genki wo chikyuu-jin minna kara ATSUMETATTE...
When the enemy is Boo NO MATTER HOW MUCH energy we GRADUALLY GATHER from the earthlings... (it won't be enough) --Gokou #42-167-3
#42-166-3
- SAE
- --"even" (more emphatic)
- SURA
- KOSO
- DOKORO KA
- --"far from" / "to say nothing of"
- 1. Ki wo TAMERU DOKORO KA ...f...futsuu ni modotchimaiyagatte.........
FAR FROM GATHERING energy ...Y...You turned back to normal......... --Vegeta #42-145-1
- 2. CHIKYUU DOKORO KA uchuu-juu ni datte hanashi ga dekiru zo!
TO SAY NOTHING OF EARTH you can speak even to the entire universe! --Kaioh-Sama #42-167-2
SENTENCE-ENDING PARTICLES
- 1. KA
- --question marker
- 1. Mita KA?
Did you see that? --Tenshinhan #28-136-7
- 2. NE
- --tag question marker / "Right?" / "Isn't it?"
- 1. Anata wa Neiru-San to yuugou shita n' desu NE!
You fused with Nail-San, RIGHT! --Dende #28-25-2
- 3. NA
- --tag question marker (masc), i.e. "Right?" / "Isn't it?"
- --used with Dict Form of verbs to make a negative command
- 1. WARAWASERU NA...
DON'T MAKE ME LAUGH... --Vegeta #28-157-1
- 2. Saiya-jin nambaa wan wa ore datte koto wo WASURERU NA...
DON'T FORGET the No. 1 among the Saiyans is I... --Vegeta #28-160-2
- --indicates emotion (masc)
**often becomes NAA
- 4. YO
- --used when what one said is meant to inform the listener
- 2. Damatte 'rya koitsu shiranakatta n' da YO-!!
If you had kept quiet, he wouldn't have known!! --Vegeta #42-65-3
- 5. WA
- --YO (fem), also used together with YO
- 1. Atashi n' 'chi ni sundara ii WA!
It would be good if you live in my place! --Bulma #28-52-3
- 2. Donna yatsu na no ka shiritai WA YO.
I want to know what sort of guy he is. --Bulma #28-67-5
- 6. KA NA
- --"I wonder if"
- 7. KASHIRA
- --KA NA (fem)
- 1. Ikite 'ru n' nara, nande kaette konai no KASHIRA...
If he's alive, then I WONDER why he hasn't returned... --Bulma #28-56-6
- 8. ZO
- --adds force to a statement (masc)
- 9. ZE
- --ZO (masc)(less emphatic)
- 10. SA
- --softens an assertion (masc)(informal)
- 1. Omee wa honki ja nakatta kara SA.
It's because you weren't serious. --Gokou #28-136-6
- 11. MONO KA
- --used in asking rhetorical questions
- 1. Ano fune wa Bejiita ga kowashite toberu MONO KA!!!
Will that ship fly, with Vegeta having destroyed it!!! --Freeza #28-29-1
- 12. KKE
- --"again", used when one forgets
**Used with Past
1. Kore wo dou suru n' deshita KKE......
What was I supposed to do with this AGAIN......? Gohan #41-231-6
Posted: 1999-03-21 (Sun)
Updated: 1999-12-22 (Wed)