{"id":1661,"date":"2009-11-03T04:41:50","date_gmt":"2009-11-03T06:41:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/comoaprenderjapones.net\/?p=1661"},"modified":"2026-08-09T22:10:12","modified_gmt":"2026-08-10T01:10:12","slug":"subject-of-the-sentences-in-japanese","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/comoaprenderjapones.net\/en\/sujeito-das-frases-em-japones\/","title":{"rendered":"Japanese subject: how to identify and when to omit"},"content":{"rendered":"

O subject in Japanese<\/strong> is the element about which the predicate makes a statement. It can perform an action, present a state, or be identified by a characteristic. It often appears with \u304c<\/strong>, but it can also coincide with the topic marked by \u306f<\/strong> or be completely omitted when the context already makes it clear who is being talked about.<\/p>\n\n

Therefore, looking only for a word before \u306f<\/strong> is not a safe method. To identify the subject, observe the predicate, the particles, and the information shared in the conversation.<\/p>\n\n

What is the subject of a Japanese sentence?<\/h2>\n\n

The subject is a grammatical function. In a simple sentence, it indicates who or what is related to the state, characteristic, or event expressed by the predicate.<\/p>\n\n

\u732b\u304c\u7a93\u306e\u305d\u3070\u3067\u5bdd\u3066\u3044\u307e\u3059\u3002<\/strong>
\n\u306d\u3053\u304c \u307e\u3069\u306e \u305d\u3070\u3067 \u306d\u3066\u3044\u307e\u3059\u3002
\nNeko ga mado no soba de nete imasu.<\/em>
\nThe cat is sleeping near the window.<\/p>\n\n

In this example, \u732b<\/strong> (cat) is the subject of \u5bdd\u3066\u3044\u307e\u3059<\/strong> (is sleeping), and \u304c<\/strong> shows that relationship. The basic SOV order helps locate the predicate at the end, but Japanese allows variations and omissions. To review this foundation, see the guide on the word order in Japanese<\/a>. A linguistic study made available by the NINJAL describes the basic SOV order and the possibility of unexpressed arguments<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n

Subject, agent, and topic are not the same thing<\/h2>\n\n

Three concepts are often confused:<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n
Concept<\/th>Function<\/th>Useful question<\/th><\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
Subject<\/td>Element to which the predicate applies<\/td>Grammatically, who or what does the predicate talk about?<\/td><\/tr>\n
Agent<\/td>Who performs an intentional action<\/td>Who performs the action?<\/td><\/tr>\n
Topic<\/td>Subject presented to receive a comment<\/td>What are we talking about?<\/td><\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n

The subject is not always an agent. In \u96e8\u304c\u964d\u3063\u3066\u3044\u307e\u3059<\/strong> (Ame ga futte imasu<\/em>, \u201cIt is raining\u201d), \u96e8<\/strong> is the subject, but it does not perform an intentional action. In more advanced structures, such as the passive voice, the subject can be the one who receives the effects of an action; the Japan Foundation shows this role change in examples of passive sentences<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n

How \u304c helps identify the subject<\/h2>\n\n

For beginners, \u304c<\/strong> is the most direct clue to the subject. It appears frequently when information is presented, identified, or chosen as the focus.<\/p>\n\n

\u7530\u4e2d\u3055\u3093\u304c\u6765\u307e\u3057\u305f\u3002<\/strong>
\n\u305f\u306a\u304b\u3055\u3093\u304c \u304d\u307e\u3057\u305f\u3002
\nTanaka-san ga kimashita.<\/em>
\nTanaka arrived.<\/p>\n\n

The sentence can answer the question \u3060\u308c\u304c\u6765\u307e\u3057\u305f\u304b<\/strong> (Dare ga kimashita ka?<\/em>, \u201cWho arrived?\u201d). The answer selects \u7530\u4e2d\u3055\u3093<\/strong> as the information sought:<\/p>\n\n

\u7530\u4e2d\u3055\u3093\u304c\u6765\u307e\u3057\u305f\u3002<\/strong>
\nIt was Tanaka who arrived.<\/p>\n\n

This does not mean that every occurrence of \u304c<\/strong> can be translated the same way. The particle marks a grammatical relation, and the natural translation depends on the predicate and the context. The guide on particles in Japanese<\/a> presents an overview of the most frequent functions.<\/p>\n\n

Why \u306f is not simply a subject particle<\/h2>\n\n

\u306f<\/strong>, pronounced wa<\/em> when it functions as a particle, marks the topic: the element presented as the subject for the following comment. The initial Irodori material from the Japan Foundation defines \u306f as a topic marker<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n

\u3053\u306e\u732b\u306f\u6bce\u671d\u65e9\u304f\u8d77\u304d\u307e\u3059\u3002<\/strong>
\n\u3053\u306e \u306d\u3053\u306f \u307e\u3044\u3042\u3055 \u306f\u3084\u304f \u304a\u304d\u307e\u3059\u3002
\nKono neko wa maiasa hayaku okimasu.<\/em>
\nAs for this cat, it wakes up early every morning.<\/p>\n\n

In this sentence, \u3053\u306e\u732b<\/strong> is the topic and also semantically corresponds to the subject of \u201cto wake up.\u201d This coincidence is common, but it does not turn \u306f<\/strong> into a universal subject marker.<\/p>\n\n

Note a case where topic and subject appear separately:<\/p>\n\n

\u79c1\u306f\u65e5\u672c\u8a9e\u304c\u597d\u304d\u3067\u3059\u3002<\/strong>
\n\u308f\u305f\u3057\u306f \u306b\u307b\u3093\u3054\u304c \u3059\u304d\u3067\u3059\u3002
\nWatashi wa nihongo ga suki desu.<\/em>
\nI like Japanese.<\/p>\n\n

\u79c1\u306f<\/strong> establishes \u201cas for me\u201d as the topic; within the comment, \u65e5\u672c\u8a9e\u304c\u597d\u304d\u3067\u3059<\/strong> presents what is liked. The natural translation in Portuguese reorganizes the relationship and does not show this structure word for word. To deepen the discursive contrast between the particles, see the article dedicated to \u306f e \u304c<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n

When the subject can be omitted<\/h2>\n\n

Japanese often omits the subject and other elements when they can already be recovered from the situation or from previous sentences. This does not mean that the sentence is \u201cmeaningless\u201d: the information remains implicit.<\/p>\n\n

I study Japanese every day.<\/strong>
\n\u307e\u3044\u306b\u3061\u3001\u306b\u307b\u3093\u3054\u3092 \u3079\u3093\u304d\u3087\u3046\u3057\u307e\u3059\u3002
\nEvery day, I study Japanese.<\/em>
\nI study Japanese every day.<\/p>\n\n

If the conversation is already about who is speaking, it is not necessary to repeat \u79c1\u306f<\/strong>. The Japan Foundation itself notes, in an example with V-\u3066\u3082\u3089\u3046<\/strong>, that \u79c1\u306f is usually omitted when the subject is recoverable<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n

Omission is appropriate when it does not create ambiguity. If two people are being compared or if the listener might interpret another subject, express the necessary element:<\/p>\n\n

\u79c1\u306f\u884c\u304d\u307e\u3059\u304c\u3001\u5c71\u7530\u3055\u3093\u306f\u884c\u304d\u307e\u305b\u3093\u3002<\/strong>
\n\u308f\u305f\u3057\u306f \u3044\u304d\u307e\u3059\u304c\u3001\u3084\u307e\u3060\u3055\u3093\u306f \u3044\u304d\u307e\u305b\u3093\u3002
\nWatashi wa ikimasu ga, Yamada-san wa ikimasen.<\/em>
\nI will go, but Yamada will not.<\/p>\n\n

A practical method for finding the subject<\/h2>\n\n
    \n
  1. Locate the predicate.<\/strong> See which verb, adjective, or nominal expression conveys the main idea.<\/li>\n
  2. Look for \u304c.<\/strong> The element marked by this particle is often the explicit subject.<\/li>\n
  3. Identify the topic with \u306f.<\/strong> Ask whether it also participates in the predicate or merely delimits the topic.<\/li>\n
  4. Consider the context.<\/strong> The subject may have appeared earlier or be obvious in the situation.<\/li>\n
  5. Avoid translating particle by particle.<\/strong> Reconstruct the full relationship in natural English.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n

    This process complements the method of Japanese sentence formation<\/a> and the Basics of Japanese Grammar<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n

    Short dialogue: explicit and omitted subject<\/h2>\n\n

    A:<\/strong> \u3060\u308c\u304c\u3053\u306e\u30b1\u30fc\u30ad\u3092\u4f5c\u308a\u307e\u3057\u305f\u304b\u3002
    \nDare ga kono k\u0113ki o tsukurimashita ka?<\/em>
    \nWho made this cake?<\/p>\n\n

    B:<\/strong> \u4f50\u85e4\u3055\u3093\u304c\u4f5c\u308a\u307e\u3057\u305f\u3002
    \nSat\u014d-san ga tsukurimashita.<\/em>
    \nSat\u014d made it.<\/p>\n\n

    A:<\/strong> \u6bce\u9031\u4f5c\u308a\u307e\u3059\u304b\u3002
    \nMaish\u016b tsukurimasu ka?<\/em>
    \n(She) makes it every week?<\/p>\n\n

    B:<\/strong> \u306f\u3044\u3001\u4f5c\u308a\u307e\u3059\u3002
    \nHai, tsukurimasu.<\/em>
    \nYes, she does.<\/p>\n\n

    In the first response, \u4f50\u85e4\u3055\u3093\u304c<\/strong> identifies who made the cake. After Sat\u014d becomes the shared reference, the subject can be omitted. The guide on questions in japanese<\/a> explains the interrogative formation used in the dialogue.<\/p>\n\n

    Commented exercise<\/h2>\n\n

    Identify the topic, the explicit subject, or the omitted subject:<\/p>\n\n

      \n
    1. \u9ce5\u304c\u7a7a\u3092\u98db\u3093\u3067\u3044\u307e\u3059\u3002<\/strong> \u2014 \u9ce5<\/strong> is the explicit subject, marked by \u304c.<\/li>\n
    2. \u3053\u306e\u753a\u306f\u51ac\u304c\u5bd2\u3044\u3067\u3059\u3002<\/strong> \u2014 \u3053\u306e\u753a<\/strong> is the topic; \u51ac<\/strong> is the element marked by \u304c within the comment.<\/li>\n
    3. \u6628\u65e5\u3001\u56f3\u66f8\u9928\u3078\u884c\u304d\u307e\u3057\u305f\u3002<\/strong> \u2014 the subject is omitted and needs to be recovered from the context.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n

      The main idea is simple: \u304c<\/strong> provides a strong clue about the subject, \u306f<\/strong> establishes the topic, and neither needs to appear when the context already provides the information. Identifying the predicate before looking for labels makes the analysis safer.<\/p>\n\n

      \n
      \n
      \n

      Which particle marks the subject in Japanese?<\/h3>\n
      \n\n

      \u304c is the most direct clue to the explicit subject, especially when the information is presented or identified. However, the subject may coincide with a topic marked by \u306f or be omitted when the context makes it clear.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

      \n

      Can you mark the subject?<\/h3>\n
      \n\n

      \u306f marks the topic, not the subject as its main function. In many sentences, the topic also semantically corresponds to the subject, but there are constructions in which topic and subject are different elements.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

      \n

      Why is the subject omitted in Japanese?<\/h3>\n
      \n\n

      Japanese avoids repeating recoverable information. When participants and the subject are already clear in the conversation, the subject can remain implicit without hindering comprehension.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

      \n

      How to know who performs the action when the subject does not appear?<\/h3>\n
      \n\n

      Use the context: observe the previous sentences, the situation, the point of view, and possible contrasts. If more than one interpretation remains plausible, the isolated sentence may indeed be ambiguous.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

      \n

      Are subject and agent always the same thing?<\/h3>\n
      \n\n

      No. The agent performs an intentional action, while the subject is a grammatical function. In natural phenomena and passive sentences, for example, the subject may not be an agent.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

      Understand what the subject is in Japanese, how to differentiate it from topic and agent, when to use \u304c, and why the subject can be omitted.<\/p>","protected":false},"author":18,"featured_media":287,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[49,70],"tags":[27,71,2,3],"class_list":["post-1661","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-curso-de-japones-gratis","category-gramatica-japonesa","tag-gramatica","tag-gramatica-japonesa","tag-idioma-japones","tag-nihongo","resize-featured-image"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/comoaprenderjapones.net\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1661","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/comoaprenderjapones.net\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/comoaprenderjapones.net\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/comoaprenderjapones.net\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/18"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/comoaprenderjapones.net\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1661"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/comoaprenderjapones.net\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1661\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":4407,"href":"https:\/\/comoaprenderjapones.net\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1661\/revisions\/4407"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/comoaprenderjapones.net\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/287"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/comoaprenderjapones.net\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1661"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/comoaprenderjapones.net\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1661"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/comoaprenderjapones.net\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1661"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}