物
also: もん
Meanings
General word for a concrete physical thing, object, or substance.
There is something inside this box.
Be careful of your back when lifting heavy things.
one's things; possessions; belongings
Used in the pattern 〜のもの to mean someone's property or belongings.
This is mine.
Please don't use other people's things without permission.
things; something; anything; everything; nothing
Used with modifiers to refer to things in a general or abstract way; often corresponds to 'something', 'anything', etc. depending on context.
There is nothing to eat.
Learning new things is fun.
Used in expressions like 物がいい or 物が違う to refer to the quality or caliber of something.
The goods in this shop are of good quality.
He has different experience, so he's really on another level.
reason; the way of things
Used in set phrases like 物は相談 or 物が分かる to refer to reason, logic, or the natural order of things.
I have a favor to ask—could you help me a bit?
He's young, but he really understands how things work.
formal noun for emphasis, tendency, or obligation
A formal noun used in the pattern 〜ものだ to express emotion, general tendencies, past habits, or what should be done. Usually written in kana.
Time passes so quickly.
I used to play in this river a lot when I was a child.
One should keep one's promises.
item classified as ...; item related to ...; work in the genre of ...
Suffix attached to nouns to indicate a category, genre, or type of item. Usually written in kana.
This shop has seasonal items on display.
Lately I often watch romance dramas.
cause of ...; cause for ...
Suffix indicating the cause or reason for something, often used in words like 心配物 or 笑い物.
His mistake became a laughingstock for everyone.
Don't become a worrywart over such a small thing.
somehow; somewhat; for some reason
Only with reading もの
Prefix attached to adjectives to add a sense of 'somehow' or 'vaguely'. Restricted to reading もの. Usually written in kana.
See also: 物寂しい (ものさびしい)
I feel somewhat lonely.
I found something rather unusual.
Only with reading もの
Prefix attached to adjectives to intensify the meaning. Restricted to reading もの. Usually written in kana.
See also: 物珍しい (ものめずらしい)
It was a truly novel experience.
It runs at a really incredible speed.
Usage patterns
- 〈動詞〉ものだused after a verb to express a general tendency, truth, or past habit
Children do tend to play outside a lot.
- 物になるto amount to something; to take proper shape (of skill or work)
His paintings have finally started to amount to something.
- 物がいいto be of good quality
This suit is well made, so it will last a long time.
- 物が分かるto be sensible; to understand how the world works
He's a sensible person, so let's talk to him about it.
- 物を言うto carry weight; to have a real effect
In this job, experience is what really counts.
- 〈人〉の物になるto become someone's property; to belong to someone
This land finally became his property.