Japanese Lesson 43: particle "wa" 英語の「は」

This lesson is an introduction to the particle "wa" in Japanese. In hiragana the sound "wa" is written as わ. However, when it is used as a particle and not part of a word, it is written as は。When は is part of a word is pronounced "ha". When は is not part of a word and stands alone as a particle it is pronounced "wa".

"wa" defines the subject you are talking about. Here are some examples:

彼は嬉しいです。
かれ　は　うれしい　です。
He is happy.
He is the subject of the happiness.

私は映画を見る。
わたし　は　えいが　を　みる。
I am going to see a movie.
Who's going to see the movie? I am

今日は暑いです。
きょう　は　あつい　です。
It's hot today
What day is hot? Today is hot.

彼女は月曜日に働けない。
かのじょ　は　げつようび　に　はたらけない。

She can't work on Monday.

Who can't work on Monday? She can't.

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今晩は

こんばんわ

Good evening.

konbanwa is written in hiragana as こんばんは。The final "wa" is written as "ha" は, but pronounced as "wa".