Translation and Meaning of: 物 - mono

The Japanese word 「物」 (mono) is a rather versatile term and has various applications in the Japanese language. Etymologically, 「物」 is a kanji that can be broken down into two components: the radical 「牛」 which represents a cow or bull, and the radical 「勿」 which suggests the idea of "not." Historically, the combination of these two elements implies something tangible or concrete, distinct from the spiritual or intangible world. The word is used in various contexts, always maintaining the foundation of designating something physical or a tangible object.

In everyday use, 「物」 refers to "thing" or "object," encompassing everything from specific items, such as furniture or tools, to more abstract concepts within a context, such as responsibility or emotion. For example, when someone mentions "食べ物" (tabemono), the meaning is "food," while "動物" (doubutsu) means "animal." Both terms share the central idea of representing physical or defined entities.

The versatility of 「物」 is also highlighted in compound word expressions, illustrating the capacity for adaptation and modification of the word within the Japanese language. Terms like "植物" (shokubutsu) for "plants" and "荷物" (nimotsu) for "luggage" are other examples of the broad use of 「物」. This adaptive character reflects the dynamic nature of the Japanese language, where a single kanji can serve as the foundation for a wide range of meanings that adjust according to the context in which it is used.

In addition to Japanese, many languages have an equivalent term for what 「物」 represents, highlighting the universal need to denote the physical world around us. The ability of 「物」 to mean so much in Japanese exemplifies how words can carry cultural and linguistic weight, transcending barriers by adapting to new situations and communicative needs. This richness of meanings is one of the reasons why 「物」 holds a unique and important position in the Japanese language.

Vocabulary

Expand your vocabulary with related words:

Synonyms and similar words

• もの (mono) - Coisa, objeto, item
• 物品 (buppin) - Article, item physical, goods
• 物体 (buttai) - Body, physical object, mass
• 物質 (busshitsu) - Substance, material, element
• 物事 (monogoto) - Things, events, general matters

物

Romaji: mono
Kana: もの
Type: noun
L: jlpt-n5

Translation / Meaning: thing; object

Meaning in English: thing;object

Definition: something that exists.

Example Sentences - (物) mono

See below some example sentences:

私は自分で着物を仕立てました。

Watashi wa jibun de kimono o shitaterimashita

I made my own kimono.

I made my own kimono.

• 私 (watashi) - signifies "I" in Japanese
• は (wa) - topic particle that indicates the subject of the sentence, in this case "I"
• 自分 (jibun) - means "myself" or "yourself"
• で (de) - particle that indicates the means or method used to perform the action, in this case "by oneself"
• 着物 (kimono) - traditional Japanese clothing
• を (wo) - particle that indicates the direct object of the action, in this case "kimono"
• 仕立てました (shitatemasu) - verb that means "to make" or "to create," in the affirmative past tense

私は嫌いな食べ物があります。

Watashi wa kirai na tabemono ga arimasu

I have food that I don't like.

I have food that I hate.

• 私 (watashi) - Japanese personal pronoun that means "I"
• は (wa) - Japanese particle that indicates the topic of the sentence
• 嫌いな (kirai na) - Japanese adjective meaning "hateful" or "unpleasant", followed by the particle na to indicate that it is an adjective
• 食べ物 (tabemono) - Japanese noun meaning "food"
• が (ga) - Japanese particle that indicates the subject of the sentence
• あります (arimasu) - Japanese verb meaning "to exist" or "to be", in the present tense

研究は人生の宝物です。

Kenkyuu wa jinsei no takaramono desu

Research is a treasure in life.

Research is a treasure of life.

• 研究 (kenkyuu) - research, study
• は (wa) - Topic particle
• 人生 (jinsei) - life
• の (no) - Possessive particle
• 宝物 (takaramono) - treasure
• です (desu) - Verb to be/estar in the present

物事は常に変化する。

Monogoto wa tsuneni henka suru

Things always change.

Things always change.

• 物事 (monogoto) - things, subjects
• は (wa) - Topic particle
• 常に (tsuneni) - always
• 変化する (henka suru) - change, vary

物理学は興味深い分野です。

Butsurigaku wa kyoumi fukai bunya desu

Physics is an interesting field.

Physics is an interesting field.

• 物理学 - Science of physics
• は - Topic particle
• 興味深い - Interesting
• 分野 - Field
• です - is

獲物を追いかけるのは猟師の本能だ。

Kamimono wo oikakeru no wa ryoushi no honnou da

Chasing prey is the instinct of a hunter.

It is the hunter's instinct to stalk his prey.

• 獲物 (えもの) - prey
• を - object particle
• 追いかける (おいかける) - to chase
• のは - particle that indicates the subject of the sentence
• 猟師 (りょうし) - Hunter
• の - Possession particle
• 本能 (ほんのう) - instinct
• だ (だ) - verb to be in the present

生き物は自然の中で大切な存在です。

Ikimono wa shizen no naka de taisetsu na sonzai desu

Living beings are important beings in nature.

Creatures are important in nature.

• 生き物 - means "living beings" in Japanese.
• は - Japanese grammatical particle that indicates the topic of the sentence, in this case, "living beings".
• 自然 - Means "nature" in Japanese.
• の - Japanese grammatical particle that indicates possession or relationship between two words, in this case, "nature".
• 中 - means "in the middle of" or "inside" in Japanese.
• で - Japanese grammatical particle that indicates the place where something happens, in this case, "within nature".
• 大切 - means "important" or "valuable" in Japanese.
• な - Japanese grammatical particle that indicates an adjective.
• 存在 - means "existence" in Japanese.
• です - verb "to be" in Japanese, which indicates the existence or identity of something.

浮力は水中で物体が浮く力です。

Furyoku wa suichuu de buttai ga fuku chikara desu

Buoyancy is the force that makes objects float in water.

Buoyancy is the power of the object floating underwater.

• 浮力 - buoyancy force
• は - Topic particle
• 水中 - in water
• で - Location particle
• 物体 - object
• が - subject particle
• 浮く - to float
• 力 - strength
• です - Verb to be/estar in the present

森は美しい自然の贈り物です。

Mori wa utsukushii shizen no okurimono desu

The forest is a beautiful gift from nature.

The forest is a beautiful natural gift.

• 森 (mori) - forest
• は (wa) - Topic particle
• 美しい (utsukushii) - beautiful
• 自然 (shizen) - nature
• の (no) - Possession particle
• 贈り物 (okurimono) - gift, gift
• です (desu) - Verb to be/estar in the present

植物は自然の美しさを表現する。

Shokubutsu wa shizen no utsukushisa o hyōgen suru

Plants express the beauty of nature.

Plants express the beauty of nature.

• 植物 (shokubutsu) - plant
• は (wa) - Topic particle
• 自然 (shizen) - nature
• の (no) - Possession particle
• 美しさ (utsukushisa) - beauty
• を (wo) - direct object particle
• 表現する (hyougen suru) - express