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は (contrast)

(this one, at least); but as for

Noun (+ particle) + は, contrasting with another

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Besides marking the topic, は sets one thing against another: 肉は食べますが、魚は食べません, "I eat meat, but I don't eat fish".

It often appears twice, once in each half, with が or けど joining them. But even a single は can hint at a contrast: ビールは飲みません, "beer I don't drink (though I might drink other things)".

It replaces を and が. With other particles, it goes after them: 大阪には, 家では, 友達とは.

This is why は is so common in negative sentences: saying "not X" invites the question "then what?", and は answers it.

Examples

  • 肉にくは食たべますが、魚さかなは食たべません。

    I eat meat, but I don't eat fish.

  • 英語えいごは話はなせますが、フランス語ごは話はなせません。

    I can speak English, but not French.

  • 平日へいじつは忙いそがしいですが、週末しゅうまつは暇ひまです。

    I'm busy on weekdays, but free at weekends.

  • ビールは飲のみません。

    Beer, I don't drink.

  • 東京とうきょうには行いきましたが、大阪おおさかには行いっていません。

    I've been to Tokyo, but I haven't been to Osaka.

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