なの

Japanese[edit]

Compound of particle な (na, the attributive (rentaikei) form of copula) and の (no, particle of question or emphasis).

なの • (na no)

(chiefly women's speech) used to indicate soft assertion.
それがこれなの。
Sore ga kore na no.
That's this.
- 1896, Kyōka Izumi, Bakeichō (化銀杏)‎^[1]:
  
  何(なに)も芳(よし)さんに二階(にかい)を貸(か)しておいて、こういっちゃあわるいけれど、はじめッからこの家(うち)は嫌(きら)いなの。
  Nani mo Yoshi-san ni nikai o kashite oite, kō itchā warui keredo, hajime-kkara kono uchi wa kirai na no.
  Despite we’re renting out the upstair to Yoshi-san, sorry but I say, I don't like this house from the beginning.
(chiefly women's speech) used to indicate intent of question.
どうしてあなたはバカなの？
Dōshite anata wa baka na no?
Why are you being stupid?

This word has an intonation of falling if in the assertive sentence and raising if in the interrogative sentence.

Sometimes よ (yo) or ね (ne) is suffixed as also feminine usage.

1999 [1865], Hiroo Yamagata, transl., 不思議の国のアリス‎^[2], translation of Alice's Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll:

「人(ひと)のこととやかく言(い)っちゃいけないのよ」とアリスは、ちょっときびしく言(い)いました。「すっごくぶさほうなのよ」
“Hito no koto toyakaku itcha ikenai no yo” to Arisu wa, chotto kibishiku iimashita.“Suggoku busahō na no yo”
“You should learn not to make personal remarks,” Alice said with some severity; “it’s very rude.”

However, when だ (da) or さ (sa) was suffixed, it has rather a masculine nuance.

2000 [1904], katokt, transl., ピーターパン：ピーターパンとウェンディ‎^[3], translation of Peter and Wendy by J. M. Barrie, archived from the original on 17 June 2020:

「じゃあなんなのさ？」「女(じょ)性(せい)の口(くち)から言(い)うようなことじゃないわ」「ああ、いいよ」ピーターは少(すこ)しいらいらして言(い)いました。
“Jā nan na no sa?”“Josei no kuchi kara iu yō na koto ja nai wa”“Ā, ii yo” Pītā wa sukoshi iraira shite iimashita.
“Then what is it?” “It isn't for a lady to tell.” “Oh, very well,” Peter said, a little nettled.