Japanese Particles - Differences From English Prepositions

Differences From English Prepositions

Many Japanese particles fill the role of prepositions in English, but they are unlike prepositions in many ways. Japanese does not have equivalents of prepositions like "on", and often uses particles along with verbs and nouns to modify another word where English might use prepositions. For example, ue is a noun meaning "top/up"; and ni tsuite is a fixed verbal expression meaning "concerning", and when used as postpositions:

Tēburu-no　　-ue-ni　　　aru.

Table-　　top/up-　exists.

"It's on the table."

Ano　　hito-wa, 　　　gitaa-ni 　　tsuite　　nandemo　wakaru.

That　person-　guitar-　concerning　anything　　knows.

"That person knows everything about guitars."