よ (yo) - Emphasis/Assertion Particle

[Statement]

Explanation

Adds emphasis or indicates new information the listener should know.

Formation

Sentence + よ

Examples

もう遅いですよ。
Mou osoi desu yo.
It's already late (you should know).
See in analyzer →
気をつけてよ。
Ki o tsukete yo.
明日は休みですよ。
Ashita wa yasumi desu yo.
Tomorrow is a holiday (in case you didn't know).
See in analyzer →

Usage Notes

  • Indicates information imbalance
  • Can sound pushy if overused
  • Softened by combining with ね → よね
  • Gender neutral but context dependent

Common Mistakes to Avoid

  • Overuse sounds bossy or know-it-all
  • よ is not just emphasis - it marks information the speaker thinks the listener should know
  • Be careful with tone - can sound aggressive