Translation guide
Expressions for referring to a thing of a particular kind, often with emotional nuance like surprise, disdain, or emphasis. Japanese uses demonstrative-based phrases, noun-modifying structures, and set expressions rather than a single word.
To say 'a thing like that' or 'that kind of thing' in a neutral, descriptive way.
Literally 'that kind of thing'. Neutral and common. そんな means 'that kind of', もの means 'thing'.
I've never seen such a thing.
Literally 'that kind of thing'. そういう is a more explicit 'that kind of'. Slightly more formal than そんなもの.
I don't need such a thing.
Literally 'that kind of thing (over there)'. Used when the thing is distant from both speaker and listener, or abstractly distant.
Such a thing is rare.
To react with 'Such a thing!' or 'How could such a thing happen?'
To say 'such a thing' with a negative or dismissive tone, like 'that kind of nonsense'.
To refer back to a specific thing just mentioned, like 'such a thing (as that)'.
To deny that something is 'such a thing', often emphatically.
English 'such a thing' often corresponds to demonstrative-based phrases in Japanese, not a single word. Direct translations like 'そのような事' are possible but can sound stiff. Use そんなもの/こと for natural speech.
そんな is the most common and casual. そういう is slightly more explicit and can be used in formal contexts. ああいう refers to something distant from both speaker and listener, often abstractly.
Such a thing! / No way!