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:

冬眠する動物はたくさんいます。

Fuyumin suru doubutsu wa takusan imasu

There are many hibernating animals.

• 冬眠する - means "hibernate" in Japanese
• 動物 - means "animal" in Japanese
• は - Japanese topic particle
• たくさん - means "a lot" or "many" in Japanese
• います - polite form of the verb "to exist" in Japanese

冷蔵庫には食べ物を入れておきます。

Reizouko ni wa tabemono wo irete okimasu

Put the food in the refrigerator.

• 冷蔵庫 (reizouko) - refrigerator
• には (ni wa) - indicates where something is placed (in this case, inside the refrigerator)
• 食べ物 (tabemono) - food
• を (wo) - Particle indicating the direct object of the sentence
• 入れて (irete) - verb "colocar" in the present tense and continuous form
• おきます (okimasu) - verb "deixar" in the present tense and polite form

古い建物がたくさんある町に住んでいます。

Furui tatemono ga takusan aru machi ni sunde imasu

I live in a city with many old buildings.

I live in a city with many old buildings.

• 古い - old
• 建物 - buildings
• が - subject particle
• たくさん - many
• ある - there are
• 町 - city
• に - Location particle
• 住んでいます - I live

土台は建物の基礎です。

Daidai wa tatemono no kiso desu

The base is the basics of the building.

• 土台 (dodai) - base, foundation
• は (wa) - Topic particle
• 建物 (tatemono) - building, construction
• の (no) - Possessive particle
• 基礎 (kiso) - foundation, base
• です (desu) - verb to be, to stay

好きな食べ物は何ですか？

Sukina tabemono wa nanidesu ka?

What's your favourite food?

What is your favorite food?

• 好きな (suki na) - means "favorite"
• 食べ物 (tabemono) - means "food"
• は (wa) - grammatical particle that indicates the topic of the sentence
• 何 (nani) - it means "what"
• ですか (desu ka) - a grammatical particle that indicates a polite question

客観的に物事を見ることが大切です。

Kankyanteki ni monogoto wo miru koto ga taisetsu desu

It is important to see things objectively.

It is important to see things objectively.

• 客観的に - objectively
• 物事 - things, subjects
• を - direct object particle
• 見る - see, observe
• こと - abstract noun indicating action or event
• が - subject particle
• 大切 - important, valuable
• です - Verb ser/estar in the formal present tense

小売店で買い物をするのが好きです。

Shouretsu ten de kaimono wo suru no ga suki desu

I like to shop at retail stores.

I like to shop at a retail store.

• 小売店 (shōriten) - retail store
• で (de) - Particle that indicates the place where the action occurs
• 買い物 (kaimono) - shopping
• を (wo) - Particle indicating the direct object of the action.
• する (suru) - make
• のが (noga) - particle that indicates personal preference
• 好き (suki) - like
• です (desu) - Verb to be/estar in the present

崩壊した建物が道路を塞いでいる。

Houkai shita tatemono ga douro wo fusai de iru

A ruined building is blocking the road.

The collapsed building is blocking the road.

• 崩壊した - Collapsed, crumbled
• 建物 - building, construction
• が - subject particle
• 道路 - road, street
• を - direct object particle
• 塞いでいる - blocking, obstructing

巨大な建物が見えます。

Kyodai na tatemono ga miemasu

I see a huge building.

You can see a huge building.

• 巨大な (Kyodaina) - large
• 建物 (Tatemono) - building
• が (Ga) - subject particle
• 見えます (Miemasu) - can be seen

干し物を外に干しています。

Hoshimono wo soto ni hoshite imasu

I'm hanging my clothes to dry outside.

Dry food is dry outside.

• 干し物 - clothes hanging to dry
• を - object particle
• 外に - outside
• 干しています - hanging to dry