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を (wo): the direct object particle

を is the most stable of the five particles: a transitive verb, an object, a を. But its pronunciation and a secondary use with motion verbs deserve a look.

o (in practice)Marks the direct object of a transitive verb

The second pronunciation trap

It's written but pronounced "o" in everyday Japanese. The initial w has all but vanished, except in singing or slow reading. It's the second of three particles with a special pronunciation, after (read "wa") and before (read "e" when it marks direction).

Base use: direct object

If a verb can take an object (transitive), that object is marked with . Ultra-stable rule, no exception in N5.

本を読む。

ほん o よむ。

Read a book.

(ほん, book) is the object of 読む (よむ, read). Marked by .

コーヒーを飲む。

コーヒー o のむ。

Drink coffee.

音楽を聞く。

おんがく o きく。

Listen to music.

The lesser-known use: crossing space

With motion verbs like 散歩する (さんぽする, take a walk), 渡る (わたる, cross), 歩く (あるく, walk) or 飛ぶ (とぶ, fly), no longer marks an object but the space traversed by the motion. Subtle but common.

公園を散歩する。

こうえん o さんぽ する。

Take a walk through the park.

The park is what one passes through while walking, not an object being "walked".

橋を渡る。

はし o わたる。

Cross the bridge.