〜を — Direct Object Marker

Properties

Property	Value
JLPT level	N5
Type	Particle
Pronunciation	o (romanized: wo)
Function	Direct object marker; route/path marker
Formality	All levels

Meaning

を marks the direct object of a transitive verb — the thing that receives the action. It answers the question "what?" or "whom?" for the verb.

It also marks the route or path through which motion occurs when used with movement verbs (e.g., 歩く, 走る, 渡る, 飛ぶ).

Structure

[Object] + を + [Transitive Verb]
[Route/Path] + を + [Motion Verb]

Examples

Japanese	Reading	English
水を飲む。	みずをのむ。	I drink water.
本を読みます。	ほんをよみます。	I read a book.
音楽を聴いています。	おんがくをきいています。	I am listening to music.
公園を散歩する。	こうえんをさんぽする。	I take a walk through the park.
橋を渡ってください。	はしをわたってください。	Please cross over the bridge.

Notes

Pronunciation

を is written with the hiragana character を but is always pronounced "o" in modern Japanese, identical to the vowel お. The romanization "wo" is used only to distinguish the particle from the vowel character.

Transitive verbs only

を is used exclusively with transitive verbs — verbs that take a direct object (e.g., 食べる, 見る, 書く). Intransitive verbs (e.g., 起きる, 来る, 笑う) do not take を.

Route usage

When combined with motion verbs, を marks a route or space traversed, not a destination. Compare:

Sentence	Particle	Meaning
駅に行く。	に	go to the station (destination)
道を歩く。	を	walk along the road (route)

Common Mistakes

Mistake	Correction	Explanation
✗ 学校に行くを好きです。	✓ 学校に行くのが好きです。	Cannot use を after a verb clause; use のが instead.
✗ 水が飲む。	✓ 水を飲む。	が marks subjects, not direct objects of transitive verbs.
✗ 公園に散歩する。	✓ 公園を散歩する。	Route/path traversal uses を, not に.