この

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Japanese

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Etymology 1

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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

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Adnominal

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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
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  • 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.
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See also
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Etymology 2

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/kokono//kono/

Abbreviation of Old Japanese kokono (“nine”).

Alternative forms

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Pronunciation

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Number

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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
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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
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References

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