〜は
The topic particle — “as for …”
は has two jobs. First, it marks the topic — what the sentence is about (“as for A …”). Second, in conversation it singles things out and contraststhem (“X は yes, Y は no”). We'll meet が — the “who/what” particle — in the next unit.
わたしは ねこです。
“As for me, I'm a cat.” — that's は.
しゅだいの は
Put は after the thing you want to talk about. It just sets the topic — then you say something about it. 🔊 Tap any example to hear it.
は marks the TOPIC — what you're talking about (“as for A …”). It sets up the thing the sentence is about, usually something already known.
とりたての は
Here's the tricky one. は can pick one thing out and contrast it with another — “as for X (unlike the others)”. The shape is Xは〜、Yは〜, often with a “but”. 🔊 Tap an example to hear it.
は can also single one thing out and contrast it — “X is this way, but Y is that way.” Swap を/が for は to add the “as for X (unlike the others)” feeling.
In real conversation it sounds like this — listen for how は sets one thing against another:
コーヒーは すきですか。
Do you like coffee?
コーヒーは すきです。でも、おちゃは あまり…。
Coffee, I like. But tea, not so much. (は contrasts the two)
スポーツを しますか。
Do you play sports?
テニスは します。でも、サッカーは しません。
Tennis, I do. But soccer, I don't. (は singles each one out)
れんしゅう
Read the English, say the Japanese out loud yourself, then flip the card to check. Watch your は!