watashi wa piano o hikimasu.

I play the piano.

Breakdown of watashi wa piano o hikimasu.

• は: topic particle
• 私わたし: I
• を: direct object particle
• ピアノ: piano

Questions & Answers about watashi wa piano o hikimasu.

Why is 私 marked with は, not が?

は is the topic marker; it sets 私 as the topic. が marks the subject when introducing new information or emphasis. Here, we’re stating what I generally do, so は is appropriate.

What role does を play after ピアノ?

を marks the direct object of a transitive verb. It indicates that ピアノ is what’s being played.

Why is ピアノ written in katakana rather than hiragana or kanji?

Loanwords from other languages—like ピアノ from Italian piano—are typically written in katakana.

Why does the verb 弾きます come at the end of the sentence?

Japanese follows an SOV (Subject-Object-Verb) order, so verbs usually appear at the end.

What is the function of the ます ending in 弾きます?

The –ます ending makes the verb polite and non-past, covering both present and future contexts in formal speech.