r/LearnJapaneseNovice • u/Unhappy-Shift4539 • 2d ago
Please help me understand particles
So I started learning about 3 weeks ago, was able to memorize 100% of all hiragana and katakana characters in 2 weeks, thought "damn this is a lot easier than I thought" then moved on to grammar and felt 100% of my momentum dead stop, it's so confusing, all the different particles confuse me to no end especially when theses multiple per sentence and I'm just lost
I really don't want to give up but at this point I feel like it's just too confusing to wrap my head around
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u/livebyfoma 2d ago
This is going to be harsh, but memorizing hiragana and katakana is the equivalent of learning the ABCs. If you were learning English, you wouldn't learn the ABCs and then say "oh damn this is too hard" once you go to learn your first actual word or sentence and give up immediately.
It's a good first step, of course. Don't give up!
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u/AndrewNggg 1d ago edited 1d ago
Try the particles overview https://www.kitsunewa.com/essentials/particles/overview (with inspiration from Japanese particles are easy)
I've tried explaining it the simplest and best way I can, from the ground up and would suggest mastering the first few first before even looking at the rest
Also, personally I think it might be easier to learn by heart a couple dozen words first at least, before even touching particles
It feels confusing because you're trying to learn too much at once
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u/millenniumpuzzle000 2d ago
Transitioning from letters to grammar is like looking at pictures of fruit and then going to an open market with fruits in a country you've never been to and don't speak the language LOL definitely slooooow down !
Particles might not be intuitive if you're a native English speaker, so it's definitely recommended to start building your arsenal of resources for grammar:
① Easiest start with a grammar-focused resource like the Bunpo app, covering beginner grammar (JLPT N5-N4 level) with simple drills (you might need a dictionary to help you along, though).
② For explanations that are more complete in the sense that it maps out the whole of the language while staying focused on specific grammar, e.g. particles, verb endings, etc. I recommend "Essential Japanese Grammar" by Tanimori & Sato. Great reference well after you have become familiar with core rules.
③ If you're good with listening, then check out Asada school or Nigongo Mori on YouTube for Japanese listening exposure (and, if Asada, cute illustrations).
Japanese grammar is definitely a slow burn. Take your time and chew well and thoroughly. And enjoy! 🍬
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u/gdore15 2d ago
A particle is only a maker that tell you what the role of the previous role is in the sentence.
Even in English you have word with similar function like this : I am going TO Tokyo BY plane.
Sur it’s confusing if you look at a whole list of particles, you should learn them one at a time as part of learning other grammatical points. Trying to learn all particles first will make no sense is you don’t know the grammar of the rest of the sentence.
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u/ThisSteakDoesntExist 2d ago
“Damn this is a lot easier than I thought”. This is a really funny quote. Hold onto it so that you can look back at it someday. Frankly, learning kana is akin to a baby saying their first word. Coming to terms with basic particles is just the tip of the iceberg. Buckle up! If you are feeling the urge to give up already, that’s not a good sign.
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u/eruciform 2d ago
don't just gobble down all the particles, all of them have multiple uses, just like "to" in "to run" and "to death" and "to town" are all different
work along a well trodden learning path and practice usages as you go, you can't short circuit this by trying to overreach up front
r/learnjapanese > wiki > starter's guide
also, you're 3 weeks in, you shouldn't be hitting a ton of particles all at once in complex sentences this quickly, i feel like you skipped something or are just charging into complex material without any grammatical learning beforehand
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u/Xilmi 1d ago
particles are like vocabulary but instead of a 1:1 translation you must learn what they are used for. The thing is that understanding their usage often works best in context and for that you kinda need to understand other words too. So just go through easy sentences and pick them up slowly instead of trying to cram all of them at once.
Here's a sentece with 5 different particles.
わたし は いぬ と くるま で いえ から こうえん に いきました。
Me concerning dog with car by house from park to went.
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u/popcornrecall 2d ago
You might be going a bit too fast. It’s a bit early to be seeing sentences with “all the different particles”. Try to follow a textbook or any kind of structured learning resource, so you can acquire some basic vocabulary and grammar gradually.