At the N5 level, you learned that を marks the direct object of a verb (ケーキを食べる). But at N4, you'll discover that を has two more important uses. Together, these three cover all of を's most common functions.
Use 1: Direct Object (Most Common)
This is the use you already know — を marks the direct target of an action:
Noun + を + transitive verb
| Example | Meaning |
|---|---|
| コーヒーを飲む。 | Drink coffee. |
| 本を読む。 | Read a book. |
| 会議の資料を準備する。 | Prepare meeting materials. |
Here, を answers the question "what is the verb acting on?"
Use 2: Point of Departure
を can mark the starting point of departure — the place you leave or exit from:
Place + を + departure verb
| Example | Meaning |
|---|---|
| うちを出る。 | Leave the house. (Go out from home) |
| バスを降りる。 | Get off the bus. |
| 大学を卒業する。 | Graduate from university. (Leave university) |
Here, を doesn't mean "do something to" — it means "leave from."
Common Departure Verbs
The departure use of を typically pairs with these verbs:
| Verb | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 出る（でる） | Leave, go out |
| 降りる（おりる） | Get off, descend |
| 卒業する（そつぎょうする） | Graduate |
| 出発する（しゅっぱつする） | Depart |
出る: A Multi-Meaning Verb
出る is a versatile verb that changes meaning with different particles:
| Combination | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| ~を出る | Leave from ~ | うちを出る (leave home) |
| ~に出る | Appear in ~ | テレビに出る (appear on TV) |
| ~が出る | ~ comes out | 新聞が出る (newspaper comes out) |
母はテレビに出たことがあります。 → My mother has appeared on TV before.
The に here means "appear on/in," which is completely different from the を in departure use.
Use 3: Movement Space (Route)
を can also mark the space through which movement occurs — not the destination, but the path traveled:
Place + を + movement verb
| Example | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 公園を走る。 | Run through the park. |
| 橋を渡る。 | Cross the bridge. |
| 道を歩く。 | Walk along the road. |
| 空を飛ぶ。 | Fly through the sky. |
Here, を indicates "the space through which movement happens."
Distinguishing Use 2 and Use 3
| Use 2 (Departure) | Use 3 (Movement space) | |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | Leave from a place | Move through a place |
| Verb type | Departure verbs (出る, 降りる) | Movement verbs (走る, 歩く, 渡る) |
| Example | うちを出る (leave home) | 公園を走る (run in the park) |
In short: Use 2 emphasizes "leaving a starting point," while Use 3 emphasizes "moving within a space."
Comparison of All Three Uses
| Use | Meaning | Verb type | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| Object | Target of action | Transitive verb | 本を読む |
| Departure | Place left from | Departure verb | うちを出る |
| Movement space | Route traveled | Movement verb | 公園を走る |
How to tell which use: look at the verb.
- Transitive verb (eat, drink, read...) → object
- Departure verb (出る, 降りる...) → departure point
- Movement verb (走る, 歩く, 渡る...) → movement space
Summary
- を is not just for marking objects — it also marks departure points and movement spaces
- Object: ケーキを食べる (eat cake)
- Departure: うちを出る (leave home)
- Movement space: 公園を走る (run through the park)
- To determine which meaning, look at the verb type
Practice
Q1. In 「大学を卒業しました」, which use of を is this?
Show Answer
Departure (leaving) use.
卒業する means "graduate," which implies leaving the university. を marks the place being left.
Q2. What is the difference between を in 「橋を渡る」and 「うちを出る」?
Show Answer
- 橋を渡る → Movement space use. Crossing over the bridge (moving through a space).
- うちを出る → Departure use. Leaving from home.
渡る is a movement verb (crossing through), while 出る is a departure verb.
Q3. In 「テレビに出たことがあります」, why is に used instead of を?
Show Answer
Because 出る here means "appear" or "show up," not "leave."
テレビに出る = Appear on TV (に marks the place of appearance). うちを出る = Leave home (を marks the departure point).
The same verb 出る has completely different meanings with different particles.