これ、あなたの？
kore, anata no?
The English phrase "is this yours?" is translated into Japanese as これ、あなたの？ (kore, anata no?)
This phrase is used to ask if a specific object belongs to the person you are speaking to.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of kore (this), anata (you) and the particle no which acts as a possessive marker. Literally, the phrase translates to "This, yours?"
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
For a more polite and complete version, you can use これはあなたのものですか？ In very formal situations, you should use これはお宅のものでしょうか？ For a very informal or casual tone, you may use これは君のもの？
How does it change in a sentence?
The particle の functions as a possessive marker, turning the pronoun anata (you) into anata no (yours). In the informal version これ、あなたの？, the question is indicated solely by rising intonation at the end of the sentence rather than a question particle.
How do you pronounce it?
kore, anata no?
Did you know?
- The formal alternative otaku in otaku no mono originally meant 'your house'. Over time, it became a polite way to refer to someone's entire family or household, and later a slang term for obsessive fans.
- Depending on the level of politeness, the word for 'this' changes based on how far the object is from the speaker and the listener. If the object is closer to the listener than the speaker, kore would be replaced by sore.
- In Japanese, you can often omit the word 'you' entirely if it is clear who you are talking to. Using あなた (anata) to mean 'you' can actually sound distant or even slightly confrontational in many social contexts.
Examples in context
- 落とし物だけど、これ、あなたの？otoshimono dakedo, kore, anata no?It's a lost item, is this yours?
Example conversation
Misaki finds a pen on the floor and asks Kenta.
- 美咲 Misakiこれ、あなたの？kore, anata no?Is this yours?
- 健太 Kentaあ、僕のペンだ。ありがとう。a, boku no pen da. arigatou.Ah, it's my pen. Thank you.
- 美咲 Misakiよかった。落とし物かと思った。yokatta. otoshimono ka to omotta.Good. I thought it was a lost item.
- 健太 Kenta助かったよ、美咲。tasukatta yo, Misaki.You saved me, Misaki.
