Copyright © 2026 Kotomora. All Rights Reserved.

Words Kanji Guides About

とある Japanese meaning | Kotomora

とある

Meanings

1

pre-noun adjectival

a certain ...; some ...

Pre-noun adjectival (rentaishi) used to refer to an unspecified but particular person, place, or thing, often in narrative contexts.

とある町まちで小ちいさな本ほん屋やを見みつけた。
I found a small bookstore in a certain town.
とある理り由ゆうで彼かれは来こられなかった。
He couldn't come for a certain reason.

Kanji

或some, one, or

Similar words

ある
ある is a general pre-noun adjectival meaning 'a certain' or 'some', while とある adds a slightly more narrative or literary flavor, often used in storytelling.

Etymology

Derived from the quotative particle と combined with the pre-noun adjectival ある, literally 'a certain (called) ...'. The exact historical development is uncertain, but it functions as a fixed rentaishi in modern Japanese.