物
thing, object, matter
Readings
On'yomi
- ブツ
- モツ
Kun'yomi
- もの
- もの-
Meaning
物 centers on a concrete or abstract item: a thing, an object, or matter in the sense of physical substance or a topic of concern.
Most common words using 物
24 of 2,120- 物ものN5
thing; object; article; stuff; substance
- 動物どうぶつN5
animal
- 人物じんぶつN3
person; character; figure; personage; man; woman
- 物語ものがたりN3
story; tale; narrative; account; fable; legend
- 建物たてものN5
building
- 本物ほんものN4
genuine article; real thing; real deal
- 物質ぶっしつN3
material; substance
- 生物せいぶつN3
living thing; organism; creature; life
- その物そのものN1
the very thing; itself
- 植物しょくぶつN3
plant; vegetation
- 食べ物たべものN5
food
- 荷物にもつN5
luggage; baggage; package
- 買い物かいものN5
shopping; purchased goods
- 物理ぶつりN3
laws of nature; physical laws
- 物凄いものすごいN3
terrific; staggering; tremendous; incredible; extreme
- 博物館はくぶつかんN3
museum
- 生き物いきものN3
living thing; living creature; animal; life
- 飲み物のみものN5
drink; beverage
- 薬物やくぶつ
drug; medicine
- 物事ものごとN3
things; everything
- 贈り物おくりものN4
present; gift
- 偽物にせものN2
spurious article; forgery; counterfeit; imitation; sham
- 貨物かもつN2
cargo; freight
- 怪物かいぶつ
monster
Study
Etymology
物 combines 牛 (cow) with 勿, which likely contributed the sound. The original sense may have been a variegated or mixed-colored cow, later extended to mean things or objects in general.
Meaning mnemonic
A cow 牜 beside a shape 勿 that looks like a wrapped bundle: picture a cow carrying a wrapped thing on its back, so 物 means a thing or object.
Reading mnemonic
For ブツ, imagine a cow bumping into a thing with its head: 'bump' sounds like ブツ, and the cow bumps into an object.