物(もの)

もの
noun
thing, object, item
1. thing, object
A physical item or entity.
良(い)い物(もの)を買(か)った。
I bought something good.
食(た)べ物(もの)がない。
There's no food.
大切(たいせつ)な物(もの)を忘(わす)れた。
I forgot something important.
甘(あま)い物(もの)が食(た)べたい。
I want to eat something sweet.
飲(の)み物(もの)は何(なに)がいいですか。
What would you like to drink?
重(おも)い物(もの)を持(も)たないでください。
Please don't carry heavy things.
2. matter, stuff
Abstract things or concepts.
人生(じんせい)というのは難(むずか)しい物(もの)だ。
Life is a difficult thing.
時間(じかん)は大切(たいせつ)な物(もの)です。
Time is a precious thing.
愛(あい)とは不思議(ふしぎ)な物(もの)だ。
Love is a mysterious thing.
経験(けいけん)は貴重(きちょう)な物(もの)です。
Experience is a valuable thing.
世(よ)の中(なか)には分(わ)からない物(もの)がたくさんある。
There are many things in the world that we don't understand.

物(もの) is one of the most versatile words in Japanese, referring to physical objects, abstract things, or general matters. As a noun it typically refers to tangible items, but in combination with adjectives (e.g. 甘(あま)い物(もの)) it means "something [adjective]."

もの VS こと:

  • 物(もの): concrete or tangible things, or abstract things treated as entities
  • こと: abstract matters, facts, events, or actions
  • Example: 大切(たいせつ)な物(もの) (a precious thing/item) vs 大切(たいせつ)なこと (an important matter/fact)

COMMON COMPOUNDS:

  • 食(た)べ物(もの): food
  • 飲(の)み物(もの): drink
  • 買(か)い物(もの): shopping
  • 着物(きもの): kimono, clothes
  • 物語(ものがたり): story, tale
  • 荷物(にもつ): luggage, baggage

GRAMMAR NOTE:
もの (or もん in casual speech) also appears as a sentence-ending particle expressing explanation, reason, or mild complaint: だって(だって)高(たか)いんだもの (But it's expensive!).

basic
Added 2026.1.9 21:45 · Revised 2026.2.22 10:46
02000/02259_mono