が

Pattern visualization

Examples

1. 誰が来ましたか。▶ —
   Who came?
2. 私が田中です。▶ —
   I am the Tanaka.

Collocations

Mnemonic

Ga (が) bundles two functions: nominative subject marker, and "but" conjunction. As subject marker, it pairs with wa: (1) new-information identification ("dare ga kita? watashi ga kita" — who came? I did), (2) object of cognition / emotion / existence verbs ("nihongo ga wakaru" I understand Japanese, "koohii ga suki" I like coffee, "neko ga iru" there is a cat), (3) interrogative-word answers (question word + ga). As conjunction, "X ga, Y" means "X but Y" — "ikitai desu ga, isogashii" (I want to go but I am busy). Korean -i / -ga maps nearly one-to-one, but Japanese-specific "object = ga" patterns trip up learners — Korean-style "ja-pae-eo-leul anda" tempts a wrong "nihongo wo wakaru." Japanese logic separates the cognizing self (speaker) from the perceived object (subject of the recognition verb). Two functions share one spelling — context decides.

Quick check

1. Correct particle in "nihongo __ wakaru"?

   • ga (Japanese-specific "object = subject" pattern)
   • wo (object marker)
   • wa (topic)
   • ni (direction)