Core Function
を marks the direct object - what receives the action of the verb.
Pronunciation: Written を but pronounced "o" (same as お)
本を読む
hon wo yomu
"read a book" (book is the direct object)
Main Uses
1. Direct Object of Action
With transitive verbs:
水を飲む - "drink water"
寿司を食べる - "eat sushi"
映画を見る - "watch a movie"
音楽を聞く - "listen to music"
手紙を書く - "write a letter"
2. Movement Through Space
Mark the space you move through:
道を歩く - "walk along the road"
橋を渡る - "cross the bridge"
空を飛ぶ - "fly through the sky"
公園を散歩する - "stroll through the park"
3. Point of Departure
With 出る (leave):
家を出る - "leave the house"
会社を出る - "leave the company"
を vs Other Particles
を vs が
本を読む - "read a book" (action on object)
本がある - "there is a book" (existence)
本が好き - "like books" (が with 好き)
を vs に
学校を出る - "leave school" (departure point)
学校に行く - "go to school" (destination)
を vs で
本を読む - "read a book" (object)
図書館で読む - "read at library" (location)
Common Verbs with を
Consumption
食べる - eat
飲む - drink
Perception
見る - see/watch
聞く - hear/listen
Communication
読む - read
書く - write
話す - speak
言う - say
Actions
買う - buy
売る - sell
作る - make
する - do
開ける - open
閉める - close
Cannot Use を With
Intransitive Verbs
✗ 家をある (exist)
✓ 家がある
✗ 公園をいる (exist/be)
✓ 公園にいる
State Verbs
✗ 寿司を好き
✓ 寿司が好き
✗ 日本語をできる
✓ 日本語ができる
Destination (use に)
✗ 学校を行く
✓ 学校に行く
Omitting を
In casual speech, を is often dropped:
Formal: 水を飲む
Casual: 水飲む
"drink water"
Formal: 本を読んだ
Casual: 本読んだ
"read a book"
Multiple を Objects
Some compound verbs take multiple を:
手を洗う - "wash hands"
席を立つ - "leave one's seat"
時間を過ごす - "spend time"
を with Movement Verbs
Special usage with movement through space:
角を曲がる - "turn the corner"
階段を上る - "go up stairs"
階段を下りる - "go down stairs"
Transitive vs Intransitive
Many verbs come in pairs:
| Transitive (を) | Intransitive (が) |
|---|---|
| 開ける (open) | 開く (open) |
| 閉める (close) | 閉まる (close) |
| 始める (begin) | 始まる (begin) |
ドアを開ける - "open the door" (action)
ドアが開く - "the door opens" (state change)
Common Patterns
[Object] を [Verb]
本を読みます - "read a book"
コーヒーを飲みます - "drink coffee"
日本語を勉強します - "study Japanese"
With location:
[Place] で [Object] を [Verb]
図書館で本を読みます
"read a book at the library"
Key Takeaways
✓ Marks direct object of action
✓ Written を, pronounced "o"
✓ With transitive verbs only
✓ Cannot use with 好き/できる/ある
✓ Often dropped in casual speech
✓ Also marks movement through space
Related: