を (wo): The Object-Marking Particle (with Examples)
What it means
を is the particle that points to the target of a verb. Most often that target is the direct object — the thing being acted on. If が tells you who or what does the action, を tells you what the action is done to.
A handy frame: [noun] を [verb] = "do [verb] to [noun]."
ヤッタンはパンを食べます。
ヤッタンは パンを たべます。
Yattan eats bread.
パン is the thing being eaten — the direct object.
モチは本を読みます。
モチは ほんを よみます。
Mochi reads a book.
先生はコーヒーを飲みました。
せんせいは コーヒーを のみました。
The teacher drank coffee.
How to form it
を attaches directly to the end of a noun, and the verb follows. No conjugation — を itself never changes.
| Piece | Role | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Noun | what the verb acts on | パン (bread) |
| を | object marker (say "o") | パンを |
| Verb | the action | パンを食べる (eat bread) |
The verb must be one that can take an object — a transitive verb like 食べる (eat), 読む (read), 見る (watch), 買う (buy). You never use を with adjectives.
Marking the direct object
This is the everyday use: the noun before を is what the action lands on.
ヤッタンは新しいかばんを買いました。
ヤッタンは あたらしい かばんを かいました。
Yattan bought a new bag.
ヤッタンの弟はテレビを見ています。
ヤッタンの おとうとは テレビを みて います。
Yattan's little brother is watching TV.
Marking a path you move through
With motion verbs (歩く walk, 散歩する take a walk, 飛ぶ fly, 走る run), を marks the space or route you move along or through — not an object you act on.
モチは公園を散歩します。
モチは こうえんを さんぽします。
Mochi takes a walk through the park.
公園 is the space moved through, not something Mochi 'does' to the park.
ヤッタンは毎朝この道を歩きます。
ヤッタンは まいあさ この みちを あるきます。
Yattan walks along this road every morning.
鳥が空を飛んでいます。
とりが そらを とんで います。
A bird is flying across the sky.
Marking the place you leave
を also marks the point of departure — where you exit or set out from — with verbs like 出る (leave/exit), 降りる (get off), 卒業する (graduate).
ヤッタンは七時に家を出ます。
ヤッタンは しちじに いえを でます。
Yattan leaves home at seven o'clock.
モチは次の駅でバスを降ります。
モチは つぎの えきで バスを おります。
Mochi gets off the bus at the next stop.
先生は東京の大学を卒業しました。
せんせいは とうきょうの だいがくを そつぎょうしました。
The teacher graduated from a university in Tokyo.
を vs が — what it's done to vs who does it
These two particles are easy to mix up. The cleanest split:
| Form | Core idea | Example |
|---|---|---|
| が | the subject — who or what does the action | ヤッタンが食べる = Yattan eats |
| を | the object/path/departure point — what the action affects | パンを食べる = eat bread |
Both can appear in one sentence: ヤッタンがパンを食べる ("Yattan eats bread"). For the difference between が and the topic marker は, see wa vs ga.
Common mistakes
- Pronouncing it "wo." It's written を but said "o," identical to the vowel お.
- Using を for the subject. The doer takes が (or は), not を: ヤッタンが来る (✓), not ヤッタンを来る.
- Putting を with an intransitive verb. 行く (go), 来る (come), and 帰る (return) don't take a を object — you go to a place with に or へ, not 公園を行く.
- Mixing up "leave a place" particles. "Leave home" is 家を出る (を marks where you exit from); a plain location you act in takes で instead.
Quick recap
- を marks what a verb acts on — the direct object: 本を読む.
- It also marks a path moved through (道を歩く) and the place you leave (家を出る).
- Written を, pronounced "o." Used only with verbs, never adjectives.
- が = who/what does it; を = what it's done to.
Your turn
Choose the sentence that uses を correctly.
Start the 5-question drill →Frequently asked questions
Is を pronounced 'wo' or 'o'?
It's pronounced 'o' — the same sound as the vowel お. The 'wo' spelling is just the traditional kana used for this particle.
What's the difference between を and が?
が marks the subject (who or what does the action): ヤッタンが食べる. を marks the object the action affects: パンを食べる. They often appear together in one sentence.
Why does 公園を散歩する use を if 公園 isn't an object?
With motion verbs, を marks the space or path you move through, not a thing you act on. So 公園を散歩する is 'take a walk through the park.'
Can I use を with adjectives?
No. を only pairs with verbs. Adjectives describe things and don't take a direct object.