🇯🇵 How to say

“thing” in Japanese

物もの
Illustration of "thing" in a Japanese cultural setting
A person is tidying their living room, placing a book, a cup, and a pair of glasses back onto a shelf. Each item is a distinct object with its own purpose.

Usage note

物 is a very general word for any physical object or thing. It's neutral and can be used in almost any situation where you're referring to an item without naming it specifically.

Examples

  • これは私の物です。

    This is my thing.

  • 机の上に物があります。

    There is a thing on the desk.

  • あの物は何ですか。

    What is that thing?

Quick check

What does "物" mean?

  • A. thing
  • B. phoenix
  • C. name
  • D. train

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