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

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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:

私は美味しい食べ物を噛むのが好きです。

Watashi wa oishii tabemono wo kamu no ga suki desu

I like to chew delicious food.

• 私 - Japanese personal pronoun that means "I"
• は - topic particle that indicates the subject of the sentence
• 美味しい - Japanese adjective that means "delicious"
• 食べ物 - Japanese noun meaning "food"
• を - direct object particle indicating the object of the action
• 噛む - Japanese verb that means "bite, chew"
• のが - particle that indicates the nominal form of a verb and functions as the subject of the sentence
• 好き - Japanese adjective that means "like"
• です - Japanese linking verb that indicates the state or condition of the subject

私はあなたからの贈り物を受け取りました。

Watashi wa anata kara no okurimono o uketorimashita

I received the gift from you.

I received a gift from you.

• 私 - personal pronoun that means "I"
• は - topic particle that indicates the subject of the sentence
• あなた - personal pronoun meaning "you"
• から - particle that indicates the origin or starting point
• の - particle that indicates possession or belonging
• 贈り物 - noun meaning "gift"
• を - Particle indicating the direct object of the sentence
• 受け取りました - verb meaning "received"

穀物は私たちの食生活に欠かせないものです。

Kokumotsu wa watashitachi no shokuseikatsu ni kakasenai mono desu

Grains are essential for our diet.

Grains are indispensable for our diet.

• 穀物 (koku-motsu) - Grains
• は (wa) - Topic particle
• 私たちの (watashi-tachi no) - our
• 食生活 (shoku-seikatsu) - Dietary food
• に (ni) - Destination particle
• 欠かせない (kakasenai) - INDISPENSABLE
• もの (mono) - Thing
• です (desu) - Verb to be/estar

編物は手作りのアイテムです。

Hemmotsu wa tezukuri no aitemu desu

Knitting is an artisanal item.

• 編物 - Japanese word meaning "knitting".
• は - topic particle in Japanese, which indicates that the subject of the sentence is "編物" (knitting).
• 手作り - a Japanese word meaning "handmade".
• の - possession particle in Japanese, which indicates that "アイテム" (item) is possessed by "手作り" (handmade).
• アイテム - Japanese word meaning "item".
• です - verb "to be" in Japanese, which indicates that the sentence is an affirmation.

船便で荷物を送ります。

Funabin de nimotsu wo okurimasu

I will send the luggage by maritime freight.

Send your luggage browsing.

• 船便 - Maritime transport
• で - particle that indicates the means of transportation used
• 荷物 - luggage, cargo
• を - Particle that indicates the object of the action
• 送ります - send, dispatch

荷物を持っていますか？

Nimotsu wo motteimasu ka?

Are you carrying luggage?

Do you have luggage?

• 荷物 - "Bagagem" em japonês significa 荷物 (にもつ, nimotsu).
• を - It is a direct object particle in Japanese, indicating that "荷物" is the object of the sentence.
• 持っていますか - It is a question in Japanese that means "Do you have (holding) the luggage?". "持っています" is the present form of the verb "持つ" (to have, to hold) and "か" is a question particle.
• ？ - It is the question mark character used to indicate that the sentence is a question.

草は緑色の美しい植物です。

Kusa wa midoriiro no utsukushii shokubutsu desu

The grass is a beautiful green plant.

• 草 (kusa) - grass
• は (wa) - Topic particle
• 緑色 (midori iro) - green color
• の (no) - Possession particle
• 美しい (utsukushii) - Beautiful, lovely
• 植物 (shokubutsu) - plant
• です (desu) - Verb to be/estar in the present

荷物が明日届く予定です。

Nimotsu ga ashita todoku yotei desu

My order is scheduled to arrive tomorrow.

The luggage will arrive tomorrow.

• 荷物 - means "package" or "luggage"
• が - subject particle
• 明日 - It means "tomorrow".
• 届く - verb meaning "to arrive" or "to be delivered"
• 予定 - means "planned" or "foreseen"
• です - Verb "to be" in polite form

蕎麦は日本の伝統的な食べ物です。

Soba wa Nihon no dentōteki na tabemono desu

Soba is a traditional Japanese food.

• 蕎麦 (soba) - Japanese noodles made from buckwheat
• は (wa) - grammatical particle that indicates the topic of the sentence
• 日本 (Nihon) - Japan
• の (no) - grammatical particle that indicates possession or relationship
• 伝統的な (dentōteki na) - Traditional
• 食べ物 (tabemono) - food
• です (desu) - Verb to be/estar in the present

裾が長い着物を着ています。

Susono ga nagai kimono wo kiteimasu

I'm wearing a kimono with a long hem.

I wear a long kimono with a hem.

• 裾 - It means "sheath" or "edge" in Japanese.
• が - subject particle in Japanese.
• 長い - adjective meaning "long" in Japanese.
• 着物 - The word that means "kimono" in Japanese.
• を - Object particle in Japanese.
• 着ています - verb that means "to wear" in Japanese, conjugated in the present continuous.