What is を?
The particle を is one of the first grammar points you will encounter in Japanese, and it is absolutely essential. Its primary job is to mark the direct object of a verb. In other words, it tells you what is receiving the action.
A quick note on pronunciation: even though を is written with the kana "wo," it is actually pronounced exactly like お (o) in modern Japanese. You will sometimes see it romanized as "wo" to distinguish it from the vowel お, but when speaking, just say "o." The "wo" spelling is a historical holdover.
So how does を actually work? Think of it as a signpost that points at the thing being acted upon. When you say 水を飲む (mizu o nomu), the を tells you that water (水) is the thing being drunk. Without it, the sentence would lack clarity about what exactly is being consumed.
Beyond marking direct objects, を has two other important uses worth knowing early on. You'll see を in action throughout our lesson on verb conjugation basics, and our complete particles guide shows how を fits alongside the other essential particles. It can indicate movement through or along a space (like walking through a park), and it can mark the point of departure when leaving a place. We will look at all three uses below.
How to Use を
1. Marking the Direct Object
This is the most common use. Place を directly after the noun that receives the action of the verb.
Structure: Noun + を + Verb
The verb must be a transitive verb (a verb that takes an object). You cannot use を with intransitive verbs like ある or いる.
2. Movement Through or Along a Place
When you move through, across, or along a space, を marks that space. Think of walking through a park, crossing a bridge, or running along a road.
Structure: Place + を + Movement Verb (歩く, 走る, 飛ぶ, 渡る, etc.)
3. Leaving a Point of Departure
When you depart from or leave a place, を marks the place you are leaving. Common verbs here include 出る (to leave), 降りる (to get off), and 卒業する (to graduate from).
Structure: Place + を + Departure Verb