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この Japanese meaning | Kotomora

この

こ

の

Common word›JLPTN5›Freq.FrequencyTop 100

Meanings

1

pre-noun adjectival

usually written using kana alone

Refers to something or someone close to the speaker, or ideas expressed by the speaker. The most basic demonstrative pre-noun adjective.

See also: その · あの · どの

この

本ほん

は

とても

面おも

白しろ

い

です

。

This book is very interesting.

この考かんがえ方かたは古ふるいかもしれません。

This way of thinking might be old-fashioned.

2

pre-noun adjectival

last (couple of years, etc.); these; past

usually written using kana alone

Used with time expressions to refer to a recent stretch of time, often implying 'the last few...' or 'these past...'. Common with words like 数日, 数年, ところ.

この数すう年ねん、海かい外がい旅りょ行こうに行いっていない。
I haven't traveled abroad these past few years.
このところ忙いそがしくて休やすめない。
I've been so busy lately I can't take a break.

3

pre-noun adjectival

you (as in "you liar")

usually written using kana alone

Emphatic, accusatory, or insulting use before a noun referring to a person. Often translates to 'you' in English, but grammatically still a pre-noun adjective. Strongly colloquial and rude.

この嘘うそつき！
You liar!
この馬ば鹿か野や郎ろう！
You idiot!

Usage patterns

この数すう〈時とき〉these past few ~ (days, years, etc.)
この数すう日じつ、忙いそがしくてほとんど眠ねむれていない。
These past few days I've been so busy I've barely slept.
このところthese days; lately
このところ、天てん気きがあまり良よくない。
The weather hasn't been very good lately.
この〈人ひと〉you, this (insulting term for a person)
この馬ば鹿か、何なにをやっているんだ！
You idiot, what are you doing!

Grammar

この・その・あの・どのThis, that, or which + nounN5

Kanji

此this, current, next
斯this, thus, such

Related words

こん
此 can function as an archaic pre-noun adjectival meaning 'this', while この is the standard modern form used before nouns.

Opposites

あのN5
あの points to something far from both speaker and listener, while この points to something near the speaker.

Don't confuse with

そのN5
この points to something near the speaker (or the speaker's own idea), while その points to something near the listener or already mentioned in conversation.
あのN5
この is used for something close to the speaker, whereas あの marks something distant from both speaker and listener, often shared background knowledge.
どのN5
この picks out a specific, known item near the speaker, while どの is the question form asking 'which one' among a set.

Word family

此この中じゅう
recently; not long ago; for a while recently
此この内うち
meanwhile; the other day; recently
此この君きみ
bamboo
此この

Written forms

このUsage100%
Standard kana spelling; the word is usually written in kana.
此このUsage<1%
rarely-used kanji form
Rare kanji form; learners should use この.
こんUsage<1%
kana-only spelling
コノ

Etymology

Derived from the proximal demonstrative こ (ko) + the old possessive/genitive particle の (no). The kanji forms 此の and 斯の are historical and rarely used in modern Japanese.

糸いと

purple; violet

Usage<1%

斯このUsage<1%

rarely-used kanji form

Rare kanji form; learners should use この.