ただ
tada[ta̠da̠]
The English word "just" can be translated into Japanese as ただ (tada).
ただ is used to indicate that something is only or simply a certain thing and nothing more. When you specifically want to say that something is "nothing more than" a particular noun, such as "just a person" or "just a joke," the form ただの is used. In informal speech, if you mean "just" in the sense of "a little," "for a moment," "in a short while," or "a bit," a common and versatile word to use is ちょっと. If you want to say "just" in the sense of "just a while ago" for something that happened recently in the past, use the informal term さっき.
Which one should you use?
While ただ can mean "just" or "merely," it can also mean "free of charge" depending on the context of the conversation.
How does it change in a sentence?
When modifying a noun, the form becomes ただの.
How do you pronounce it?
tada
Did you know?
- While ただ is used for 'just' in a limiting sense, the word ちょっと is often used as a social cushion to soften a refusal without saying 'no' directly.
- Because ただの can mean 'just a/an' when modifying nouns, it is often used in Japanese to express humility or to downplay one's own importance.
- The word ただ is an ancient term that appears in the Kojiki, a record of legendary events and myths compiled in 712 CE.
Examples in context
- ただの犬よ。It's just a dog.This sentence is useful for practicing the use of ただ to say something is just a dog.Tatoeba #12591738 by small_snow, translation #11254660 by Amastan
- ただの冗談よ。I was just joking.This sentence is useful for practicing the use of ただ to say someone was just joking.Tatoeba #3399533 by arnab, translation #2234980 by Hybrid
- ただの夢だった。It was just a dream.This sentence is useful for practicing the use of ただ to say something was just a dream.Tatoeba #9529086 by small_snow, translation #1977819 by Spamster
- ちょうど5時に到着します。I will arrive at exactly 5 o'clock.
- ちょっと待ってください。Please wait for a moment.
- さっき彼女に会った。I just met her a little while ago.
- うわさによると、彼はちょうど結婚したそうだ。Rumor has it that he just got married.
- ちょっと待ってくれる？話したいことがあるよ。Can you just wait for a moment? I have something to talk about.
- さっき、寿司を食べたばかりなんだ。I just ate sushi a little while ago.
- ちょうど今、桜が満開だ。The cherry blossoms are in full bloom just now.
- 242 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Misaki and Ren are talking about a suspicious sound in the room.
- 美咲 Misaki今の音は何？Ima no oto wa nani?What was that sound just now?
- 蓮 Renただの風だよ。Tada no kaze da yo.It was just the wind.
- 美咲 Misaki本当に？Honto ni?Really?
- 蓮 Renうん、ただの風だから大丈夫。Un, tada no kaze dakara daijoubu.Yeah, it's just the wind, so it's fine.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry ただ, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries ただ, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
