彼はただの会社員じゃない。
He's not just an ordinary office worker.
それはただの噂だよ。
That's just a rumor.
noun which may take the genitive case particle 'no', noun
Means something costs nothing. Very common in everyday speech, e.g., ただで (for free).
このアプリはただで使えます。
You can use this app for free.
ただより高いものはない。
Nothing is more expensive than something free. (proverb)
noun which may take the genitive case particle 'no', noun
Used in set expressions like ただでは済まない (won't get away with it) or ただでは起きない (won't take it lying down). Implies that a situation will not end without consequences or change.
彼を怒らせたらただでは済まないよ。
If you make him angry, you won't get away with it.
あの失敗はただでは起きなかった。
That failure didn't happen without reason.
Adverbial use meaning 'nothing more than'. Often interchangeable with だけ, but ただ can sound slightly more emphatic or literary. Common in ただ～だけ patterns.
ただ君に会いたかっただけだ。
I just wanted to see you.
それはただの言い訳に過ぎない。
That's nothing more than an excuse.
Conjunction used to introduce a contrasting statement. Often appears as ただ or ただし. Slightly formal; in casual speech でも or けど are more common.
この計画は良い。ただ、費用がかかりすぎる。
This plan is good. However, it costs too much.
参加は自由です。ただ、事前に申し込んでください。
Participation is free. However, please apply in advance.
I don't think he's just an ordinary person.
This app can be used for free.
If you make a mistake like this, it won't just blow over.
I just silently watched, nothing more.
The food was delicious. However, it was a bit expensive.
That's just a common cold, so you don't need to worry.
ただし is the standard modern conjunction for 'but, however', whereas ただ used this way sounds slightly more literary or formal.
単なる is a pre-noun modifier meaning 'mere,' while ただ is a versatile word (often adverbial) that can express the same 'just/only' nuance in more casual speech.
有料 means something costs money, the direct opposite of ただ in the sense of 'free of charge'.
特別 describes something special or exceptional, the opposite of ただ meaning 'ordinary, common'.
ただ is written almost the same and can also mean 'however/only', but ただし specifically marks a formal exception or condition attached to a rule or statement.
I'm home!; I'm back! · now; at present; currently · just now; a moment ago · right away; shortly; soon
middle; midst; in the middle of
ordinary person; average person; nobody special
unusual; serious; extraordinary · incomparable; matchless
Kanji form for the noun/adjectival senses 'ordinary, free, unaffected'. Less common than kana.
Kanji form specifically for the conjunction 'but, however'. Rare in modern writing; kana is preferred.
Rare kanji variant for 'only, merely'. Not recommended for learners.
Rare kanji variant for 'ordinary, usual'. Not recommended for learners.