Japanese edit

Etymology 1 edit

Alternative spellings
此の
斯の

Originally a compound of Old Japanese elements (ko, this, pronoun) +‎ (no, possessive, modifies following noun). as a pronoun is no longer used individually in modern Japanese.

Pronunciation edit

Adnominal edit

この (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)
  3. used before words for insults to add emphasis; compare Chinese (zhè, “this”) and Vietnamese này (this)
    この()鹿()
    Kono baka!
    You idiot!
    (literally, “This idiot!”)
    このボケ
    Kono boke!
    You halfwit!
  4. I, me: used before one's own name to refer to oneself arrogantly
Usage notes edit
  • 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 "...", as this is the adnominal, or attributive form, incapable of standing independently.
      • Using kono in this way is comparable to using English the without a noun after it (*I like the.).
    • Correct:
      これ()きです。Kore ga suki desu.I like this.
      • A pronoun is used in the stead of the attributive, resulting in the desired meaning of 'this', with no verbal reference present nor required as to the identity of the object.
  • Almost always spelled in hiragana as この.
Related terms edit
See also edit

Etymology 2 edit

/kokono//kono/

Abbreviation of Old Japanese kokono (“nine”).

Alternative forms edit

Pronunciation edit

Number edit

この (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 edit

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 edit

References edit

  1. 1.0 1.1 Matsumura, Akira, editor (2006) 大辞林 [Daijirin] (in Japanese), Third edition, Tōkyō: Sanseidō, →ISBN