こと

こと

noun

thing (abstract), matter

1. thing, matter, affair (abstract)

Refers to abstract concepts, events, facts, or situations. Unlike 物 (もの), which is for concrete objects.

大切(たいせつ)なことを忘(わす)れました。

I forgot something important.

そのことは知(し)っています。

I know about that matter.

Abstract 'matter' or 'thing'

このことは誰(だれ)にも言(い)わないでください。

Please don't tell this to anyone.

健康(けんこう)のことを考(かんが)えてください。

Please think about your health.

子(こ)どもの時(とき)のことをよく思(おも)い出(だ)します。

I often remember things from my childhood.

2. (nominalizer)

Turns verbs and adjectives into noun phrases, allowing them to be the subject or object of a sentence.

日本語(にほんご)を話(はな)すことができます。

I can speak Japanese.

Nominalizing function with できる

泳(およ)ぐことが好(す)きです。

I like swimming.

Nominalizing function - 'the act of swimming'

日本(にほん)に行(い)ったことがありますか。

Have you ever been to Japan?

ことがある = to have the experience of

早(はや)く寝(ね)ることにした。

I decided to go to bed early.

本(ほん)を読(よ)むことが趣味(しゅみ)です。

Reading books is my hobby.

約束(やくそく)を守(まも)ることは大切(たいせつ)だ。

Keeping promises is important.

こと has two main functions: (1) as a noun meaning 'thing, matter, affair' for abstract concepts, and (2) as a grammatical nominalizer that turns verbs/adjectives into noun phrases.

こと VS もの:

こと: abstract things (events, facts, situations)
もの: concrete, tangible things

KEY GRAMMAR PATTERNS:

ことがある: to have the experience of (past tense + ことがある)
ことができる: to be able to
ことにする: to decide to
ことになる: it has been decided that
ということ: the fact that, I heard that

KANJI:
Sometimes written 事(こと), but hiragana is more common, especially in grammatical uses.

NOTE:
This is one of the most fundamental words in Japanese. Mastering its grammatical patterns is essential for intermediate learners.

basic

Added 2026.1.7 21:16 · Revised 2026.3.28 18:49

01000/01164_koto