Particle Entry

Particle Entry Requirements

Reminder: Write each entry individually by hand. Do not use scripts to mass-produce entries. See entry-guidelines skill.

Particles are among the most important entries for intermediate learners. They require especially thorough explanations.

Required Sections (HIGH PRIORITY)

1. Predicates Requiring This Particle

List verbs and adjectives that specifically require this particle:

PREDICATES REQUIRING が:
- できる - {日本語|にほんご}ができる (can do Japanese)
- {分|わ}かる - {意味|いみ}が{分|わ}かる (understand the meaning)
- {好|す}き - {音楽|おんがく}が{好|す}き (like music)
- {欲|ほ}しい - {水|みず}が{欲|ほ}しい (want water)
- {上手|じょうず} - {料理|りょうり}が{上手|じょうず} (good at cooking)
- {苦手|にがて} - {数学|すうがく}が{苦手|にがて} (bad at math)
- ある/いる - {本|ほん}がある (there is a book)
- {見|み}える/{聞|き}こえる - {声|こえ}が{聞|き}こえる (can hear a voice)

2. Contrast with Similar Particles

Explicitly compare with particles learners confuse:

CONTRAST: が vs. は
- が marks NEW information or the specific subject
- は marks the TOPIC (old/known information)

Example contrast:
- {誰|だれ}が{来|き}ましたか。→ {田中|たなか}さんが{来|き}ました。
  (Who came? → Tanaka came.) [が marks new info in answer]
- {田中|たなか}さんは{来|き}ましたか。→ はい、{来|き}ました。
  (Did Tanaka come? → Yes, [he] came.) [は marks known topic]

Key particle contrasts to cover:

• が vs. は (subject vs. topic)
• に vs. へ (destination/goal)
• に vs. で (location: existence vs. action)
• を vs. が (with potential verbs)
• から vs. より (from/since vs. than)

3. New vs. Old Information (for は/が specifically)

Explain information structure:

INFORMATION STRUCTURE:
- が introduces NEW information
- は marks what is already KNOWN (topic)

In answers to questions:
- Q: {何|なに}が{好|す}きですか。(What do you like?)
- A: {寿司|すし}が{好|す}きです。(I like sushi.) [が marks new info]

4. Fixed Patterns

List grammatical patterns that use this particle:

FIXED PATTERNS:
- 〜てから - after doing
- 〜までに - by (deadline)
- 〜について - about, concerning
- 〜に関して - regarding
- 〜によると - according to

Template for Particle Entries

Important: Follow the formatting guidelines in the vocabulary-notes skill for proper structure.

[Particle] is used to mark [basic function].

MAIN USES:
1. [First use with explanation and example]
2. [Second use with explanation and example]
...

PREDICATES REQUIRING [particle]:
- [verb/adjective] - [example]
- [verb/adjective] - [example]
...

CONTRAST WITH [similar particle]:
[Explanation of difference]
[Contrastive examples]

FIXED PATTERNS:
- [pattern] - [meaning]
...

COMMON MISTAKES:
[What learners often get wrong]

Specific Requirements by Particle

が (Subject marker)

• List ALL common predicates requiring が
• Extensively compare with は
• Explain exhaustive-listing が ({私|わたし}が{行|い}きます = I'll go [not others])

は (Topic marker)

• Explain topic ≠ subject
• Show contrastive は ({肉|にく}は{食|た}べます = As for meat, [I] eat [it])
• Compare with が for new vs. old information

を (Object marker)

• Note verbs where が replaces を (potential: {日本語|にほんご}が{話|はな}せる)
• Show motion through space: {公園|こうえん}を{歩|ある}く

に (Various functions)

• Distinguish: location of existence vs. で for action location
• Time expressions: {三時|さんじ}に
• Indirect object: {友達|ともだち}に{あげる|あげる}
• Direction/goal: {学校|がっこう}に{行|い}く

で (Various functions)

• Location of action vs. に for existence
• Means/method: {電車|でんしゃ}で{行|い}く
• Material: {木|き}で{作|つく}る
• Reason: {病気|びょうき}で{休|やす}む

から/まで (From/Until)

• Spatial and temporal uses
• Compare から with より for comparisons

も (Also/Even)

• Inclusive listing
• Emphatic negation: {誰|だれ}も{来|こ}なかった

Required Tags for Particles

All particle entries must include these tags in metadata.tags:

"metadata": {
  "tags": {
    "pos": ["particle"],
    "formality": "neutral",       // Most particles are neutral
    "politeness": "plain",        // Particles themselves are plain
    "semantic": ["grammatical"]   // Use "grammatical" for particles
  }
}

Notes:

• Particles are functional words, so semantic: ["grammatical"] is appropriate
• Some particles may have formality variations (e.g., formal written particles)
• The style tag can be added for written-only particles: "style": ["written"]

Example Sentences

See the example-sentences skill for complete requirements including:

• Minimum counts: 5 examples per sense (basic/core) or 3 (general)
• Progressive length: Examples should get longer from first to last
• Vocabulary restrictions by tier
• Quality standards and formatting

Particle-specific guidelines:

• Each major function should have dedicated examples
• Show predicates requiring the particle in natural sentences
• Provide contrastive examples with similar particles
• Include examples of fixed patterns

Quality Checklist for Particles

• Tags complete: pos, formality, politeness, semantic all present
• Minimum examples per sense (5 for basic/core, 3 for general)
• All major functions listed with examples
• Predicates requiring this particle explicitly listed
• Contrast with commonly confused particles explained
• Fixed patterns included
• Examples show real usage contexts
• Common learner mistakes addressed
• Depth matches other particle entries
• All examples have valid sense_numbers