Japanese word

この

Pronunciation

Romajikono

Meaning

  • pre-noun adjectivalthis

Example

この本は面白いです。ko no hon wa omo shiro i de su

This book is interesting.

Illustration for この (this)

More examples

この犬は大きいです。ko no inu wa ō ki i de su

This dog is big.

このペンを使ってください。ko no pe n o tsuka tte ku da sa i

Please use this pen.

Core concept

Marks a noun as the one near the speaker or central in the current context, corresponding to "this".

Common phrases

  • このペンko no pe n

    this pen

  • この方ko no hō

    this person

  • この問題ko no mon dai

    this problem

Similar words

そのsono: Marks a noun as the one near the listener or already known in the context.
あのano: Marks a noun as the one distant from both speakers or known from shared experience.

Definition in Japanese

話し手に近い、または話題の中で指し示されているものを表し、後ろの名詞を限定する語。hana shi te ni chika i ma ta wa wa dai no naka de sa shi shime sa re te i ru mo no o arawa shi ushi ro no mei shi o gen tei su ru go

Word origin

The Japanese form この (kono) combines こ (ko, a proximal demonstrative stem) with の (no, an attributive particle), creating a form used before a noun to mean "this".

Usage tips

  • Unlike English this, この (kono) normally appears before a noun, as in この本 (kono hon), while the standalone form is これ (kore).

Word lists with this word