水を沸かす？お湯を沸かす？Understanding how to use the particle “を”

Table of Contents

1. 水みずを沸わかす？お湯ゆを沸わかす？
2. Basic Functions of the Particle “を”
3. “を” as a Marker of Produced Result①
4. “を” as a Marker of Produced Result②
5. Let’s Compare
6. Summary
7. Similar Articles
8. Comment

Q: If 沸わかす means “boil,” then wouldn’t “水みずを沸わかす” be correct? Why do we say お湯ゆを沸わかす in Japanese?

A:It’s true that if we think in English, we would say boil water, so “水みずを沸わかす” might seem like the natural expression.
However, in Japanese, it’s very important to understand the function of the particle 「を」 correctly.
“水みずを沸わかす” indicates that water is the direct object of the action.
On the other hand, “お湯ゆを沸わかす” shows what is produced by the action—in this case, hot water. Here, 「を」 marks the result or product of the verb 沸わかす (to boil).
Understanding this difference can help you better grasp the meaning and nuance of Japanese expressions.

Basic Functions of the Particle “を”

The particle “を” is mainly used in the following three ways:

● Object (Indicating the target of an action)
It shows what the verb is acting on.

[Examples]
父ちちは新聞しんぶんを読よんでいます。
My father is reading a newspaper.

上司じょうしに頼たのまれて仕事しごとを引き受ひ　うけました。
I was asked by my boss and accepted the task.

● Starting Point (Indicating the point of departure or separation)
It shows where the action starts or what is being left.

[Examples]
午後ごご6時じ頃ころ、会社かいしゃを出でました。
I left the office around 6 p.m.

日本にほんを離はなれて10年ねんになります。
It has been 10 years since I left Japan.

● Path / Route (Indicating the space something moves through)
It shows the place an action physically passes through.

[Examples]
大おおきい車くるまが道みちを走はしっています。
A big car is driving on the road.

橋はしをわたって、むこうに行いきましょう。
Let’s cross the bridge and go over there.

“を” as a Marker of Produced Result①

The expression “水みずを沸わかす” is similar to “ごはんを食たべる” in that the particle “を” marks the direct object of the action.

[Examples]
水みずを沸わかします。
I boil water.
⇒ In this case, “水みず” is the object of the action “沸わかす” (to boil).

Now, what about the “を” in “お湯ゆを沸わかす”?
Here, “を” indicates what is produced by the action—this is known as the “production” use of the particle.

[Examples]
コーヒーを飲のみたいから、お湯ゆを沸わかしました。
I boiled water because I wanted to drink coffee.
⇒ “コーヒー” is the object of the verb “飲のむ” (to drink), while “お湯ゆ” is something that was created through the action “沸わかす”.

In this way, “を” is not only used to show the direct object, but also to mark something produced by the action—a concept known as “production”.

“を” as a Marker of Produced Result②

In fact, “を” is also used with many other verbs to mark things that are produced by an action.
This is the use of “を” to indicate produced or created results.

It often appears with verbs such as:
作つくる (make), 掘ほる (dig), 生み出う　だす (create), 生産せいさんする (produce), かく (write/draw), 送おくり出だす (send out), 創造そうぞうする (create), 発明はつめいする (invent), and so on.

[Examples]
日本にほん料理りょうりを作つくります。
I make Japanese food.

彼かれはすばらしいアイデアを生み出う　だしました。
He came up with a great idea.

その作家さっかは多おおくの作品さくひんを世よに送り出おく　だしました。
The writer released many works into the world.

冬ふゆになると動物どうぶつたちは穴あなを掘ほって、そこで冬眠とうみんします。
In winter, animals dig holes and hibernate in them.

What these sentences have in common is that “を” marks something newly created as a result of the action.
In other words, “を” can also be used to indicate what is produced through the action—known as the production usage.

Let’s Compare

Which expression is more appropriate in the following cases?

[Examples ①]
この水みずを沸わかしてくれる？
Can you boil this water?

このお湯ゆを沸わかしてくれる？
Can you boil this hot water?

[Examples ②]
水みずを沸わかしてから、だしを入いれてください。
Boil the water first, then add the soup stock.

お湯ゆを沸わかしてから、だしを入いれてください。
Boil the hot water first, then add the soup stock.

In Example ①, “この水を沸かしてくれる？” is the more natural choice.
Here, the speaker is pointing to a specific, visible item—”水みず” (water)—and is asking the listener to boil that water. The focus is on the object being acted upon.

On the other hand, in Example ②, “お湯ゆを沸わかす〜” is more appropriate.
In this case, the speaker is not focusing on the action of boiling a specific water source, but on the result—”お湯ゆ” (hot water)—which is needed for the next step. Here, “を” is marking the product of the action, not the object itself.

As we can see, the choice between “水みずを沸わかす” and “お湯ゆを沸わかす” depends on what you want to communicate:
Are you referring to the object (水みず), or to the outcome (お湯ゆ)?
This determines which expression is more suitable.

Summary

• The particle “を” has three main basic functions:
  ① Object – indicates the direct object of an action
  ② Starting point – shows the place something leaves or moves away from
  ③ Path – shows the place something passes through while moving
• In addition, “を” can also indicate the result or product of an action. For example, in the phrase お湯ゆを沸わかす (“boil hot water”), the particle “を” marks what is being produced.
• This usage also appears with verbs like 作つくる (make), 生み出う　だす (create), and 発明はつめいする (invent).

Similar Articles

Comment for any questions!