Japanese word

ただ

Pronunciation

Romajitada

Meaning

  • nounordinary

Example

これはただの本です。ko re wa ta da no hon de su

This is an ordinary book.

Illustration for ただ (ordinary)

More examples

それはただのうわさです。so re wa ta da no u wa sa de su

That is just a rumor.

Core concept

Marks something as plain, unremarkable, and lacking a special distinction, which gives it the sense of ordinary or mere.

Common phrases

  • ただの話ta da no hanashi

    mere talk

  • ただの冗談ta da no jō dan

    just a joke

Similar words

普通futsū: A thing or state that is usual and not especially different.
平凡heibon: A thing or state without remarkable qualities or features.
並みnami: A level or quality that is within the usual range.

Definition in Japanese

ほかと比べて特別ではなく、ありふれたもの。ho ka to kura be te toku betsu de wa na ku a ri fu re ta mo no

Word origin

The native word ただ (tada, "ordinary") developed alongside the older sense "only" or "nothing more," giving ordinary the sense of having no special addition; its deeper origin is uncertain.

Usage tips

  • For beginners, ただの (tada no) is useful because it can describe an unremarkable noun as "ordinary," while in some contexts the same pattern is translated as "mere."

Other meanings

  • merenoun

Opposites

Word lists with this word