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watasi ha susi wo tabemasu.

私わたし　は　寿す司し　を　食たべます。watasi ha susi wo tabemasu.
I eat sushi.
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Questions & Answers about watasi ha susi wo tabemasu.

What is the reading and part of speech of each word in 私は寿司を食べます？
  • 私（わたし）: pronoun meaning “I.”
  • は: particle marking the topic of the sentence (pronounced “wa”).
  • 寿司（すし）: noun meaning “sushi.”
  • を: particle marking the direct object of a verb.
  • 食べます（たべます）: verb in the polite non-past affirmative form, meaning “eat.”
Why is the particle は written as “ha” but pronounced “wa”?
The character は is historically a “ha” sound, but when used as the topic marker it’s pronounced wa. This is an exception preserved from older Japanese phonology. When は marks a topic, always say “wa.”
What exactly does the particle は do in this sentence?

The particle は highlights what you’re talking about (the topic).
In “私は寿司を食べます,” it tells us that the sentence is about 私 (I). It doesn’t mark the subject in a strict grammar sense, but rather what you want to discuss or emphasize.

What does the particle を indicate here?

The particle を marks the direct object—the thing being acted upon.
In this sentence, 寿司を shows that sushi is what is being eaten.

Why is the verb in the ～ます form, and how would it change in casual speech?

“食べます” is the polite, non-past affirmative form used in formal or everyday polite situations.

  • Casual/plain present: 食べる (taberu)
  • Polite present: 食べます (tabemasu)
  • Polite past: 食べました (tabemashita)
Why is the word order “Topic + Object + Verb” instead of “Subject + Verb + Object”?

Japanese typically follows SOV (Subject-Object-Verb) order. You introduce the topic (often the subject), then the object, and finish with the verb.
English is SVO (Subject-Verb-Object), so it feels reversed:

  • JP: 私は　寿司を　食べます
  • EN: I   eat   sushi
Can you omit 私は and still be understood?

Yes. Japanese often drops pronouns when context is clear.

  • With pronoun: 私は寿司を食べます (“I eat sushi.”)
  • Without pronoun: 寿司を食べます (Still “I eat sushi,” if it’s clear you’re talking about yourself.)