ただの

pre-noun adjectival

mere; just; ordinary; nothing but

1. mere; just; ordinary; nothing special; only

Used before a noun to indicate that something is nothing more than what is stated — it is ordinary, unremarkable, or should not be taken as anything special.

ただの風邪(かぜ)だから心配(しんぱい)しないで。

It's just a cold, so don't worry.

私(わたし)はただの学生(がくせい)です。

I'm just a student.

これはただの噂(うわさ)だと思(おも)うけど、社長(しゃちょう)が辞(や)めるかもしれないらしい。

I think it's just a rumor, but apparently the company president might resign.

Always appears directly before a noun: ただの＋noun. Can express modesty (ただの主婦(しゅふ)です — I'm just a housewife) or dismissal (ただの冗談(じょうだん) — it's just a joke). Often used to downplay significance.

COMMON PATTERNS:

ただの風邪(かぜ) — just a cold
ただの冗談(じょうだん) — just a joke
ただの友達(ともだち) — just a friend
ただの偶然(ぐうぜん) — mere coincidence
ただ者(もの)ではない — not ordinary, not someone to underestimate

SIMILAR WORDS:

単(たん)なる — mere (more formal/written equivalent)
ほんの — just, only (emphasizes smallness: ほんの少(すこ)し — just a little)
普通(ふつう)の — normal, ordinary (neutral, does not carry the dismissive nuance)

general

Added 2026.4.5 13:32 · Revised 2026.4.10 16:12

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