Formal nouns, or 形式名詞 transcribed keishiki meishi, are a type of Japanese nouns that are more grammatical than meaningful. These nouns are part of common and important phrases, and perform important grammatical functions, but don’t really have translatable meaning in these phrases.
There are more than two dozen formal nouns in Japanese, but the most common ones are arguably こと transcribed koto, もの transcribed mono, and ところ transcribed tokoro. In this post, we’ll find out what roles these little words play and when and how we can use them in everyday conversations, and point you towards some resources where you can learn about other formal nouns. Let’s get started!
こと [koto]
As a regular noun, こと transcribed koto means “fact,” “matter,” “incident,” or “circumstance,” and it is written in kanji as 事.
However, こと transcribed koto often is used as a formal noun, in which case its meaning is dependent on the grammatical structure you use it in. When it’s a formal noun it’s usually written in hiragana. For a full list of structures, check out this list of expressions with こと transcribed koto, but for now, let’s look at some of the most common ones!
のこと [no koto]: “Regarding…”
Add のこと transcribed no koto after a noun to talk about things “related to” or “regarding” that noun. The の transcribed no in this phrase is the particle の transcribed no. You’ll mostly use it in two situations:
To talk about things or topics relating to the noun:
nounサッカーのことはジョンに聞くといいよ。Transcription: Sakkā no koto wa Jon ni kiku to ii yo.Translation: Regarding soccer, you should ask John.To mark the target of a feeling or action
nounねえ、隆君のこと、どう思ってるの？Transcription: Nē, Takashi kun no koto, dō omotteru no?Translation: Say, how do you feel regarding Takashi?
こと [koto] as a nominalizer
The word こと transcribed koto can also act as a nominalizer, or a word that turns another word or phrase into a noun. When こと transcribed koto is used this way, it follows a verb or adjective in the plain form.
〜ことだ [koto da]: “should”
You can use 〜ことだ transcribed koto da, or its polite version 〜ことです transcribed koto desu, to mark something you think “should” be done or “should” happen, because it’s the best course of action. This expression follows the verb you think “should” be done or the action that “should” happen.
For advice to do something, the dictionary form of verbs comes before こと transcribed koto:
頭が痛いのなら、家に帰って早く寝ることだ。Transcription: Atama ga itai no nara, ie ni katte hayaku neru koto da.Translation: If you have a headache, you should go home and go to bed early.For advice not to do something, use the non-past plain negative form instead.
plain negative form (non-past)健康のためには、夜更かしをしないことです。Transcription: Kenkō o tame ni wa, yofukashi o shinai koto desu.Translation: For your health, you should not stay up late at night.If you instead want to say “there is no need to” do something, use the negative version 〜ことはない transcribed koto wa nai after the dictionary form
dictionary formいくら受験生でも、徹夜で勉強することはない。Transcription: Ikura jukensei de mo, tetsuya de benkyō suru koto wa nai.Translation: Even if you are preparing for entrance exams, there is no need to study all night long.If you want to quickly give a command, drop だ transcribed da and just end the sentence with 〜こと transcribed koto.
明日は８時までに登校すること。Transcription: Ashita wa hachi ji made ni tōkō suru koto.Translation: Be at school by eight o’clock tomorrow.
こと [koto] to mark strong feelings
You can add expressions like 〜ことだ transcribed koto da, 〜ことだろう transcribed koto darō or 〜ことか transcribed koto ka at the end of a sentence that expresses a feeling emphatically. All three endings follow the plain form of a verb or adjective. This is common in statements that express appreciation, sympathy, or amazement.
- Appreciation:落とした財布を誰かが交番に届けてくれた。ありがたいことだ。Transcription: Otoshita saifu o dareka ga kōban ni todokete kureta. Arigatai koto da.Translation: Someone picked up my wallet and delivered it to the police substation. I’m so grateful.
- Sympathy:親友が引っ越したら、めいちゃんはさぞ寂しがることだろう。Transcription: Shinyū ga hikkoshitara, Mei chan wa sazo sabishigaru koto darō.Translation: When her best friend moves away, Mei will definitely miss them.Check out our post on だろう transcribed darō to learn more about this word!
- Amazement:小さかった娘がなんと大きくなったことか。Transcription: Chiisakatta musume ga nanto ōkiku natta koto ka.Translation: My little daughter is all grown up now!
もの [mono]
As a regular noun, もの transcribed mono, written in kanji as 物, has a vague meaning, like “thing” or “something.” This noun can stand in for something physical (e.g. goods, clothes, food) or abstract (e.g. matters, words, facts).
- 物を食べるTranscription: mono o taberuTranslation: to eat foodLiterally: to eat something
- 物のわかる人Transcription: mono no wakaru hitoTranslation: a reasonable personLiterally: a person who knows things
When it’s used as a formal noun, though, もの transcribed mono is usually written in hiragana, and is usually not translated into English. There are two common ways to use もの transcribed mono as a formal noun. For more phrases with this formal noun, check out this list of expressions with もの transcribed mono!
もの [mono] as a nominalizer
The formal noun もの transcribed mono, like こと transcribed koto, can turn a word or phrase into a noun, when used after a plain form.
- i-adjective (plain form)人生とはそんなに甘いものではない。Transcription: Jinsei to wa son’na ni amai mono de wa nai.Translation: Life is not such an easy thing.
- na-adjective友情は大切なものだが、壊れやすくもある。Transcription: Yūjō wa taisetsuna mono da ga, kowareyasuku mo aru.Translation: Friendship is something precious, but it’s also fragile.
- verb (plain form)人々が最も望んでいたものは自由だった。Transcription: Hitobito ga mottomo nozonde ita mono wa jiyū datta.Translation: What people desired the most was freedom.
〜ものだ [mono da]
The phrase 〜ものだ transcribed mono da and its variations come at the end of a sentence and provide emphasis.
Here are some variations on this ending:
- Plain:〜ものだTranscription: mono da
- Plain negative:〜ものではないTranscription: mono de wa nai
- Polite:〜ものですTranscription: mono desu
- Casual / Spoken:〜もんだTranscription: mon da
- plain, more feminine, soft:〜もの / 〜ものよ / 〜ものねTranscription: mono / mono yo / mono ne
Sometimes 〜ものだ transcribed mono da is translated as “...full stop” or “...period,” other times it’s translated as “...indeed,” or “...for real,” but ultimately it’s easiest to just look at some examples of when it’s used. Let’s check out the four major functions of 〜ものだ transcribed mono da!
The natural or ideal state of something
We use 〜ものだ transcribed mono da to emphasize that a sentence describing something is describing its natural, intrinsic, or ideal state. Sentences like these often follow this pattern:
Noun
(generic)(というもの)Transcription: (to iu mono)はTranscription: waDescription
〜ものだTranscription: mono da夏 (というもの) は暑い ものだ。Transcription: atsui .Translation: Summer is intrinsically hot.Summer is hot. Period.癖 (というもの) は、なかなか直せないものです。Transcription: , nakanaka naosenai .Translation: A habit is typically quite hard to get rid of.A habit is hard to get rid of. Period.The description before 〜ものだ transcribed mono da is the dictionary or plain negative form of an adjective or a non-volitional verb (i.e., a verb that is not for an intentional action)
Advice or admonition
You can add 〜ものだ transcribed mono da to a sentence describing an action as a way to describe what a person “should” or “ought to” do, based on common beliefs or conventional wisdom. Often this is a way to admonish someone for doing something wrong.
親の言うことは聴くものだ。Transcription: Oya no iu koto wa kiku mono da.Translation: You ought to listen to what your parents say.Comparable to “You listen to what your parents say. Period.”If you want to tell someone not to do something, it sounds more natural to use 〜ものではない transcribed mono de wa nai, negating the ending rather than the verb for the action. In casual speech, this is shortened to 〜もんじゃない transcribed mon ja nai.
- ✅上司の指示には逆らうものではない。Transcription: Jōshi no shiji ni wa sakarau mono de wa nai.Translation: You should not defy the instructions given by your boss.To defy instructions given by your boss is “not the thing”.
- ❓上司の指示には逆らわないものだ。Transcription: Jōshi no shiji ni wa sakarawanai mono da.Here it would have been better to negate the ending rather than the verb!
Remember that where 〜ことだ transcribed koto da marks something the speaker thinks you should do, given your situation, 〜ものだ transcribed mono da is used to mark actions that are advisable or expected in general!
Struck by a fact or emotion
You can also use 〜ものだ transcribed mono da to mark something you are moved, impressed or surprised by.
- 時間がたつのは早いものだ。Transcription: Jikan ga tatsu no wa hayai mono da.Translation: Time really does fly.The speaker is feeling struck by this reality.
- こんな大きい石をよく一人で動かせたものだ。Transcription: Kon’na ōkii ishi o yoku hitori de ugokaseta mono da.Translation: It’s amazing that he could move a large rock like this all by himself.The speaker is taken aback by an unlikely feat.
- 今年こそ自分の家を持ちたいものだ。Transcription: Kotoshi koso jibun no ie o mochitai mono da.Translation: I truly hope that this is the year I’ll be a homeowner.The speaker is struck by the strength of their hope.
In this use, 〜ものだ transcribed mono da follows the plain form of a verb, the dictionary form of an i-adjective, or the pre-nominal form of a na-adjective.
Nostalgia
We can also use 〜ものだ transcribed mono da after a statement about the past to express that you’re feeling nostalgic.
子供のころ、よくこの川で泳いだものだ。Transcription: Kodomo no koro, yoku kono kawa de oyoida mono da.Translation: (I fondly remember that) I used to swim in this river as a child.
ところ [tokoro] as a nominalizer
As a regular noun, ところ transcribed tokoro, written as 所 in kanji, means “location,” “place,” or “spot”, and it is most often used to describe the place where something exists. It’s often used to describe a home address, place of residence, or local area.
- 住んでいる所Transcription: sunde iru tokoroTranslation: place of residence
- お所とお名前Transcription: otokoro to onamaeTranslation: (your) home address and name
As a formal noun, we can use ところ transcribed tokoro in various non-literal uses and expressions. Let’s have a look at the most common ones. For a full list, check out these additional uses of ところ transcribed tokoro.
〜のところ [no tokoro]
You can use 〜のところ transcribed no tokoro after a noun, in structure in the following situations.
To indicate a spot or part within the whole:
nounすみません、問題のここのところがわかりません。Transcription: Sumimasen, mondai no koko no tokoro ga wakarimasen.Translation: Excuse me, but I don’t understand this part of the problem.To turn a regular noun into a place noun:
noun帰ってきたら、 ドアのところに箱が置いてあった。Transcription: Kaette kitara, doa no tokoro ni hako ga oite atta.Translation: When I came home, there was a box at the door.
ところ [tokoro] as a nominalizer
We can use ところ transcribed tokoro to turn a phrase or clause into a noun by attaching it to the plain form of a verb, adjective, or sentence. The noun you form this way can represent…
An abstract part, point, or aspect of something:
adjective (plain form)鬼コーチの山田先生にもやさしいところがある。Transcription: Oni kōchi no Yamada sensei ni mo yasashii tokoro ga aru.Translation: Even Mr. Yamada, our strict coach, has a kind side.Contents, including abstract contents of something:
verb (plain form)思うところを包まずに話してください。Transcription: Omou tokoro o tsutsumazu ni hanashite kudasai.Translation: Please speak what’s in your mind without hiding it.The extent or degree of something:
sentence (plain form)ざっと見たところでは、特に問題ないようだ。Transcription: Zatto mita tokoro de wa, toku ni mondai nai yōda.Translation: From a brief glance, it seems that there is no issue in particular.The intrinsic nature of the place:
旅館というところは、もてなしとくつろぎを提供する施設だ。Transcription: Ryokan to iu tokoro wa, motenashi to kutsurogi o teikyō suru shisetsu da.Translation: Fundamentally, Japanese inns are facilities that offer hospitality and relaxation.A particular stage in a changing situation:
今のところは、一人でも大丈夫です。Transcription: Ima no tokoro wa, hitori de mo daijōbu desu.Translation: For now, I’m OK on my own.
Common expressions with ところ [tokoro]
We can also use the formal noun ところ transcribed tokoro in various expressions. Here are just a couple examples. For more, check out this list of expressions with ところ transcribed tokoro!
You can preface a request, apology, or expression of gratitude using ところを transcribed tokoro o. This expression is commonly used in formal speech or polite conversations. Follow the patterns below:
Noun + の transcribed no
ところをTranscription: tokoro oVerb / Adjective
(non-past)ところをTranscription: tokoro o
You can express that someone has had a narrow escape from a disaster or predicament using the pattern below:
(あやうく...)Transcription: ayaukuVerb
dictionary formところだったTranscription: tokoro datta忙しくて、 あやうく結婚記念日を 忘れるところだった。Transcription: Isogashikute, kekkon kinenbi o .Translation: As I’ve been busy, I almost forgot our wedding anniversary.あやうく transcribed ayauku means “almost,” “narrowly,” or “by a hair.” We can also use a more casual phrase もう少しで transcribed mō sukoshi de or もうちょっとで transcribed mō chotto de to mean the same.Several phrases with ところ transcribed tokoro can indicate something about when the action they mark is happening. Follow the links to learn more about each of these phrases!
〜ところだ (tokoro da): Something that’s about to happen
電車に乗るところだ。Transcription: Densha ni noru tokoro da.Translation: (I) am about to ride a train.〜ているところだ transcribed te iru tokoro da: Something that’s in the middle of happening
母は電話をかけているところだ。Transcription: Haha wa denwa o kakete iru tokoro da.Translation: My mother is (right in the middle of) calling on the phone.〜たところ transcribed -ta tokoro: Something that’s just happened
今、ここに着いたところです。Transcription: Ima, koko ni tsuita tokoro desu.Translation: I just now arrived here.
To sum up
In this post, we’ve looked at the most common uses of the formal nouns こと transcribed koto, もの transcribed mono, and ところ transcribed tokoro in everyday communication. To learn more about more formal nouns, and more uses of these three most common ones, check out our Japanese formal nouns reference sheet!
Or, if you’d rather practice the words and phrases we covered in the article, check out our Japanese formal nouns activities. Happy learning!
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