Japanese particles are small words that follow nouns, pronouns, or phrases to indicate their grammatical function in a sentence. They help clarify relationships between words, such as the subject, object, or direction of an action. Common particles include は (wa) for the topic, が (ga) for the subject, and を (o) for the object. These particles are essential for understanding the structure of Japanese sentences. Unlike in English, where word order is crucial, Japanese relies on these particles to convey meaning. Mastering particles is key to achieving fluency and comprehension in the Japanese language.