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Definition 2024


この

この

Japanese

Pronunciation

Alternative forms

Adnominal

この (romaji kono)

  1. (deictically) this ... (near the speaker)
    この (くるま) (みどり)です。
    Kono kuruma wa midori desu.
    This car is green.
  2. (anaphorically) this ... I am talking about (only the speaker knows)
Usage notes
  • This term can only be used when followed by a noun or noun phrase. It cannot be used as a standalone pronoun. Examples:
    • Correct:
      この (いろ) ()きです。Kono iro ga suki desu. ― I like this color.
      • A noun follows kono.
    • Incorrect:
      この ()きです。Kono ga suki desu. ― I like this ...
      • There must be a noun in place of the "...".
      • Using kono in this way is comparable to using English the without a noun after it (*I like the.).
  • Almost always spelled in hiragana as この.
See also
Related terms

Etymology 2

/kokono//kono/

Abbreviation of Old Japanese kokono (“nine”).

Pronunciation

Alternative forms

Number

この (romaji kono)

  1. (dated) nine
    ひい、ふう、みい、よう、いつ、むう、なな、やあ、この、とお。
    hī, fū, mī, yō, itsu, mū, nana, yā, kono, tō.
    One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten.
Usage notes

Generally only used when counting out loud, as in the example above. In writing, usually found spelled out in hiragana as この to make the reading unambiguous.

Synonyms

References

  1. 1 2 2006, 大辞林 (Daijirin), Third Edition (in Japanese), Tōkyō: Sanseidō, ISBN 4-385-13905-9