Which one should you use?
While watashi no means "my", adding mono specifically emphasizes the object as a possession or a physical thing. If you are about to name the object immediately, such as in the phrase "my book", you can omit mono and simply use watashi no.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
For a more formal tone, you can use [Noun] wa watakushi no mono desu to mean "The [noun] is my thing." There are also highly informal ways to express this: males might use [Noun] wa ore no (noun) and females might use [Noun] wa atashi no (noun). Using ore instead of watashi makes the expression highly informal and masculine.
How does it change in a sentence?
To make the phrase a complete and polite sentence, you should add the copula desu to the end, resulting in 私のものです (It is mine).
How do you pronounce it?
watashi no mono
Did you know?
- In many Japanese contexts, stating 'it is mine' with watashi no desu can actually sound quite aggressive or confrontational. To avoid sounding like you are claiming territory, speakers often use much more indirect, polite phrasing to imply ownership.
- Japanese has several words for 'thing' beyond mono, such as koto, which is used for intangible things like ideas or events that cannot be physically owned.
- The masculine pronoun ore is frequently used by 'cool' or rebellious characters in anime and film to claim ownership as a personality trope.
Examples in context
- このかばんはわたしのです。This bag is mine.
- その時計はわたくしのものです。That watch belongs to me.
- このアイフォンはぼくのだよ。This iPhone is mine.
- そのシャツはあたしのものよ。That shirt is mine.
- これは私のものです。Kore wa watashi no mono desu.This is mine.
- そのバッグは私のものです。Sono baggu wa watashi no mono desu.That bag is mine.
- このノートは私のものです。Kono no-to wa watashi no mono desu.This notebook is mine.
Example conversation
Kenta and Yui are looking for their belongings on a table.
- 結衣 Yui健太さん、このペンは誰のですか？Kenta-san, kono pen wa dare no desu ka?Kenta, whose pen is this?
- 健太 Kentaあ、それは私のものです。A, sore wa watashi no mono desu.Oh, that is mine.
- 結衣 Yuiはい、どうぞ。Hai, douzo.Here you go.
- 健太 Kentaありがとうございます。Arigatou gozaimasu.Thank you very much.
