Japanese

Pronunciation

• (Tokyo) この [kònó] (Heiban - [0])^[1]
• IPA^(key): [kõ̞no̞]

Alternative forms

• 此の, 斯の

Adnominal

この ‎(romaji kono)

1. (deictically) this ... (near the speaker)

   この車 (くるま)は緑 (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:

    この色 (いろ)が好 (す)きです。‎ ― Kono iro ga suki desu. ― I like this color.

    • A noun follows kono.
  • Incorrect:

    このが好 (す)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

• (Tokyo) こ​の [kóꜜnò] (Atamadaka - [1])^[1]
• IPA^(key): [kõ̞no̞]

Alternative forms

• 九

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

• ここのつ ‎(kokonotsu)

References

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