を Particle (Origin of Movement)

を Particle (Origin of Movement) Japanese Grammar Lesson

Grammar Type: Particle

Essential Meaning: From / Out of

Construction: 

• Spatial Noun + を
  • E.g. バスを [Out of the bus]
  • E.g. うちを [From the house]

Notes:

• を (Origin of movement) is very similar to から (Starting Point). Both particles mark the initial starting location of some movement. The distinction between the two is that を (Origin of movement) simply marks the location from which a movement begins, whereas から (Starting Point) marks the initial location of a movement into another location. In other words, から (Starting Point) imparts relevance to the destination of movement as well as the origin, while を (Origin of Movement) focuses solely on the origin with no mind paid to the destination.

• In many cases, を (Origin of Movement) and から (Starting Point) can be used interchangeably with very little change in connotation. However, if the sentence explicitly states both the origin and destination of a movement, から (Starting Point) is the appropriate particle to use. Conversely, if the destination of movement is totally irrelevant to the meaning of the sentence, を (Origin of Movement) is the appropriate particle.
  • E.g. 汽車きしゃがトンネルを出でた。[The train exited the tunnel.] In this case, the sentence does not place any significance on where the train is headed. It places significance solely on the fact that the train exited the tunnel.
  • E.g. 汽車きしゃがトンネルからでた。[The train exited the tunnel (and entered some new place).] In this case, から (Starting Point) indicates that where the train is headed is relevant.
  • E.g. 昨日きのうはうちから外そとに出でなかった。[Yesterday, I didn’t exit my house (into the outdoors).] This sentence explicitly states both the origin of movement (うち) and the destination of movement (外そと), so から (Starting Point) is the appropriate particle.
  • E.g. 私わたしは今朝けさ8時じごろ家いえを出でた。[This morning around 8 AM I left my house.] In this example, the place that the speaker goes after exiting the house is irrelevant; the acting of leaving is the relevant fact. Thus, を (Origin of movement) is the appropriate particle.

Example Sentences:

私わたしは朝あさ七時半しちじはんにうちを出でる。[I leave my house at 7:30 AM.]

バスを降おりた時とき友達ともだちに会あった。[When I exited the bus, I bumped into my friend.]

汽車きしゃがトンネルを出でた。[The train exited the tunnel.]

日本にほんを離はなれて外国がいこくで暮くらしている。[I left Japan and am living abroad.]

WILD Examples:

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