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:

樹木は自然の贈り物です。

Jumoku wa shizen no okurimono desu

Trees are gifts from nature.

Trees are natural gifts.

• 樹木 (jumoku) - trees
• は (wa) - Topic particle
• 自然 (shizen) - nature
• の (no) - Possessive particle
• 贈り物 (okurimono) - gift, gift
• です (desu) - verb to be, to stay

果物はとても美味しいです。

Kudamono wa totemo oishii desu

The fruits are very delicious.

The fruits are very delicious.

• 果物 (kudamono) - fruits
• は (wa) - Topic particle
• とても (totemo) - very
• 美味しい (oishii) - tasty, delicious
• です (desu) - Verb to be/estar in the present

思い出は宝物です。

Omoide wa takaramono desu

Memories are treasures.

Memories are treasures.

• 思い出 - Memoirs
• は - Topic particle
• 宝物 - treasure
• です - Verb "to be" in the present tense

彼女は物好きな人です。

Kanojo wa monozuki na hito desu

She is a curious person.

She is a favorite person.

• 彼女 (kanojo) - She
• は (wa) - Topic particle
• 物好き (monozuki) - Interested in strange things, curious
• な (na) - adjective particle
• 人 (hito) - Person
• です (desu) - Verb to be in the polite form

彼の好きな食べ物は何ですか？

Kare no suki na tabemono wa nan desu ka?

What is his favorite food?

What's your favourite food?

• 彼の - his
• 好きな - adjective "favorite"
• 食べ物 - Noun "food"
• は - Topic particle
• 何 - interrogative pronoun "what"
• ですか - interrogative particle

巨大な建物が見えます。

Kyodai na tatemono ga miemasu

You can see a huge building.

You can see a huge building.

• 巨大な - means "huge" in Japanese
• 建物 - means "building" in Japanese
• が - is a grammatical particle that indicates the subject of the sentence
• 見えます - is a verb meaning "to see" or "to appear" in Japanese, conjugated in the affirmative present tense

同一人物だと思います。

Dōitsu jinbutsu da to omoimasu

I think it's the same person.

I think it's the same person.

• 同一 (douitsu) - means "same" or "identical".
• 人物 (jinbutsu) - means "character" or "figure".
• だと (da to) - a combination of particles that indicates an assumption or belief.
• 思います (omoimasu) - means "I believe" or "I think".

動物は私たちと共に生きる大切な存在です。

Doubutsu wa watashitachi to tomo ni ikiru taisetsuna sonzai desu

The animals are important beings that live with us.

Animals are important beings who live with us.

• 動物 (doubutsu) - Animal
• は (wa) - marcador de tópico
• 私たち (watashitachi) - we/us
• と (to) - with
• 共に (tomonini) - juntos
• 生きる (ikiru) - "Viver"
• 大切な (taisetsuna) - importante
• 存在 (sonzai) - existência
• です (desu) - copula (to be)

博物館に行きたいです。

Hakubutsukan ni ikitai desu

I want to go to the museum.

I want to go to the museum.

• 博物館 (hakubutsukan) - museum
• に (ni) - particle indicating destination
• 行きたい (ikitai) - want to go
• です (desu) - a polite way of finishing a sentence

作物は農業の基本的な要素です。

Sakumotsu wa nōgyō no kihonteki na yōso desu

Crops are basic elements of agriculture.

Crops are the basic elements of agriculture.

• 作物 - cultivation
• は - Topic particle
• 農業 - agriculture
• の - Possessive particle
• 基本的 - Basic
• な - adjectival suffix
• 要素 - Element
• です - Verb to be/estar