JLPT N5 grammar · Core Particles & Actions

~は~が [Adjective]: meaning, usage and examples

Q: What does ~は~が [Adjective] mean?

(Topic は Sub-part が Adjective). Example: 東京は、人が多いです。 (There are a lot of people in Tokyo. (Lit: Tokyo has many people))

Q: How do you form ~は~が [Adjective]?

＜Topic＞ は + ＜Sub-part＞ が + ＜Adjective/Predicate＞. The classic elephant example: ゾウは鼻が長い: is not 'Elephants have long trunks' but structurally 'As for elephants, their trunks are long.'

~は~が [Adjective] means: (Topic は Sub-part が Adjective).

Updated 9 November 2026 · By the My Senpai team · Spotted a mistake? Tell us

How to form it

＜Topic＞は + ＜Sub-part＞が + ＜Adjective/Predicate＞

Examples

東京とうきょうは、人ひとが多おおいです。
There are a lot of people in Tokyo. (Lit: Tokyo has many people)
ぞうは鼻はなが長ながいです。
Elephants have long noses.
田中たなかさんは背せが高たかいです。
Mr. Tanaka is tall.
この部屋へやは窓まどが大おおきいです。
This room has big windows.

When to use it

Use when describing a specific attribute of a topic. The topic is set with は, then a sub-part is marked with が.

Nuance

This double-particle structure is core to Japanese. The は establishes context; が introduces the focal attribute.

Compare

富士山ふじさんが高たかい (Fuji is tall: focusing on Fuji). 富士山ふじさんは高たかい (As for Fuji, it is tall: Fuji as topic).

Tip: The classic elephant example: ゾウは鼻はなが長ながい: is not 'Elephants have long trunks' but structurally 'As for elephants, their trunks are long.'

Frequently asked questions

What does ~は~が [Adjective] mean?

(Topic は Sub-part が Adjective). Example: 東京とうきょうは、人ひとが多おおいです。 (There are a lot of people in Tokyo. (Lit: Tokyo has many people))

How do you form ~は~が [Adjective]?

＜Topic＞は + ＜Sub-part＞が + ＜Adjective/Predicate＞. The classic elephant example: ゾウは鼻はなが長ながい: is not 'Elephants have long trunks' but structurally 'As for elephants, their trunks are long.'