の is a postpositional particle, it is simply put as a connector between 2 nouns. “AのB” is often translated into English “B of A”. The word before の qualifies the word after の. It has several types of meaning below.
Examples
1. who’s B (posessive)
私のスマホ
my smartphone
スマホ or スマートフォン [noun] smartphone
2. group’s B, B of group
会社のスマホ
company smartphone
会社 [noun] company, corporation
3. country name adjectives B
アメリカのスマホ
American smartphone
アメリカ + の [noun + postpositional particle] American
In Japanese, all country name adjectives are expressed as “country name + の”.
4. manufactureler B
アップルのスマホ
Apple smartphone
5. type/character/disposition/properties B
旧型のスマホ
old-fashioned smartphone
旧型 [noun] old-fashioned, old model, old type, old style
6. A = B
妹のねずこ
younger sister Nezuko
妹 [noun] younger sister
If the A and B are swapped like below, the meaning is also changed to like below. ねずこの妹
Nezuko’s younger sister
A の B の C の …
の can be used as many times as you like in one sentence.
私の妹のねずこのスマホはアップルの旧型です。
My younger sister Nezuko’s smartphone is an old model of Apple.
東京の秋葉原のメイドカフェの看板のキャラクター
The character of the signboard of the maid cafe in Akihabara, Tokyo
東京 [noun] Tokyo 秋葉原 [noun] Akihabara メイドカフェ [noun] maid cafe 看板 [noun] signboard キャラクター [noun] character
In Japanese, when explaining something, it is normally explained from the outside to the inside or from outline to detail, it is a natural way. The word before の qualifies the word after の. I said it twice because it’s important.
Practice
Translate the following sentences into Japanese using ”の”.
President Marukawa
社長 [noun] president
President Marukawa
社長のまるかわ
Japanese Nintendo video game character Mario
Hints
日本 [noun] Japan 任天堂 [noun] Nintendo ゲーム [noun] video game キャラクター [noun] character
Japanese Nintendo video game character Mario
日本の任天堂のゲームのキャラクターのマリオ
この, その, あの, どの
You have already learned about これ, それ, あれ and どれ in the articles below. In this paragraph, we add の after them.
これ, それ, あれ
A is B. / A は B です。https://youtu.be/Fh9J3vofJ4E 【How to say “A is B.” in Japanese】 A は B です。 In English, be verb should be changed according to the subject. But in Japane…
どれ
Is A B? / A は B ですか？【How to say “Is A B?” in Japanese】 A は B ですか？ To make a question sentence, add “か？” at the end of the sentence. It is not necessary to add a “?”, Bu…
Japanese
English
Meanings
Word root
このA
this A
pointing to A close to you
これ+の
そのA
the A
pointing to A close to the person you are talking to
それ+の
あのA
that A
pointing to A far away
あれ+の
どのA
which A
pointing to A (used in interrogative sentences)
どれ+の
この, その, あの, どの
These words are very useful, so If you understand this, you can make a lot of practical sentences.
Examples
このりんごは美味しいです。
This apple is delicious.
りんご [noun] apple 美味しい [I-adjective] delicious
その本はとても面白いです。
The book is very interesting.
本 [noun] book とても [adberb] very
あの人は誰ですか？
Who is that man?
(あなたは)どのアニメが一番好きですか？
Which anime do you like the best? (あたなは is omitted)
一番 [adverb] No.1, the first, the best, 好きな [Na-adjective]
Practice
You need to use various grammars you have learned so far.
Translate the following sentences into Japanese using ”この”, “その”, “あの” or “どの”.
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