How to Say "Thing" in Japanese

もの

mono[mo̞no̞]

The Japanese word for 'thing' is もの (mono).

もの is used to refer to an object that has a physical presence.

Which one should you use?

While もの refers to physical objects, the word こと is used to refer to abstract things, such as ideas, facts or events.

もの is a noun and does not change its form for pluralization. The context of the sentence determines if it means 'thing' or 'things'.

mono

In Japanese aesthetics, the term ものあわれ (mono no aware) describes a deep, bittersweet empathy for the transience of all things. It is a central concept in Japanese art and literature regarding the beauty of impermanence.
The word もの is the root of the Japanese concept ものづくり, which translates to 'making things' but refers to a spiritual dedication to craftsmanship and technical perfection.
When used in certain polite expressions, もの can act as a way to soften a sentence or provide a reason for a behavior, often used by women or children to sound more endearing or less blunt.

もっとゆっくり話していただけますか？
Could you please speak more slowly?
英語を話せますか？
Do you speak English?
机の上に、変なものがあります。
Tsukue no ue ni, hen na mono ga arimasu.
There is a strange thing on the desk.
これは、とても大切なものです。
Kore wa, totemo taisetsu na mono desu.
This is a very important thing.

Yota and Misaki are cleaning their room together.

陽太 Yota

美咲、このものはどこに置く？
Misaki, kono mono wa doko ni oku?
Misaki, where do I put this thing?
美咲 Misaki

それは箱の中に入れてください。
Sore wa hako no naka ni irete kudasai.
Please put that in the box.
陽太 Yota

わかった。他にも捨てるものはある？
Wakatta. Hoka ni suteru mono wa aru?
Got it. Are there any other things to throw away?
美咲 Misaki

あっちにある古い本を捨ててね。
Acchi ni aru furui hon o sutete ne.
Throw away those old books over there.

Sources

⭐Share⭐ to appreciate human effort 🙏