All about the particle in Japanese [の]

In this article, we will talk about everything you need to understand about the particle no [の] in the Japanese language and its many functions beyond indicating possession [that something belongs to something].

What is the particle in [の] for?

Many believe that the particle no [の] is one of the easiest in the Japanese language. Its main function is to indicate that one thing belongs to another, replacing the Portuguese "do, de, meu, minha, nosso, seu, sua" and other prepositions or articles that indicate that something belongs to something else.

However, the function of the particle no [の] goes far beyond that. We can list the following functions of the Japanese particle:

• Indicate ownership;
• Nominalize verbs and adjectives;
• Transform verbs into nouns;
• Indicate an apposition (union);
• Indicate the object in subordinate sentences by replacing the ga [が];
• Indicate a conclusion;
• Indicate an emotional emphasis;
• Indicate a modified pronoun
• Indicate a question or question;
• Used to soften a command;
• Can mean no (English no) if written in katakana;

Not to mention other functions that the particle in [の] can perform when it is fused to another particle as in the case of noni [のに], node [ので], monono [ものの], nomi [のみ], damage [だの] and node [のです];

Using the particle in [の] to indicate possession

The most popular function of the particle in [の] as mentioned several times, is to join nouns and words together to indicate that something belongs to another. The simplest examples are:

• Watashi no kazoku [私の家族] - My family;
• Kebin no kuruma [ケビンの車] - Kevin's car;
• Gakkou no sensei [学校の先生] - School teacher;
• Anata no biishiki [あなたの美意識] - Your sense of beauty;
• Suzume no namida [雀の涙] - Sparrow's Tears;
• Ago no hone [顎の骨] - Mandible bone;
• In the dorama [ドラマのなか] - In (the middle of) the dorama;
• Bokura no kankei [ボクらの関係] - Our relationship;
• Mirai no Kuruma [未来の車] - Future Car;
• My dog [私の犬] - Meu cachorro;
• Watashi no pasokon [私のパソコン] - My computer;
• Computer School [コンピュータの学校] - Computador da escola;
• Tokyo no chikatetsu [東京の地下鉄] - Tokyo Metro;
• Kankoshi no ane [看護師の姉] - Nurse's sister;
• Watashi no piano [私のピアノ] - My piano;
• Anata no geemu [あなたのゲーム] - Your game;
• Distance to school [学校までの距離] - Distancia para escola;

I think the examples above can show how simple it is to use the function of uniting and indicating that something belongs to another using the particle no [の]. Things can get complicated when we try to unite more than two things. The sentences below will help you understand this:

彼は私たちの学校の先生です。
He is us no gakkou no sensei desu.
He is our school teacher.
He is a teacher at our school.

In the first example we have the particle no [の] to refer to 3 interconnected things. Note that the pronoun is the first to use the particle in [の], followed by the place and the profession.

これは私の日本語の本です
This is my Japanese language book.
This is my Japanese book. 

In this example we can see that the pronoun comes first, followed by the characteristic and the possession object. Below we have a photo that explains more about the structure of the particle:

First we have the pattern which is any noun [S1 + の + S2] that can extend into [S1 + の + S2 + の + S3]. In the blue boxes we have some pre-defined examples that help to understand the order of each type of noun.

Finally, let's see one last example:

私の友人の山田君を紹介します。
I will introduce my friend Yamadakun. 
I introduce my friend Yamada.

In this example, we have the use of the particle no [の] as possession and also as an equalizer. Let's learn more about equalization in the next topic.

Using the no [の] particle with verbs

Here are some examples of verbs being used in conjunction with the no [の] particle to indicate possession. In this case, the sentences are subordinate and the particle no gives the idea of a subject marker.

ユキの買った本
Yuki no kata hon
The book that yuki bought

彼の作ったケーキはおいしかった。
Kare no tsukutta keeki wa oishikatta.
The cake he made was delicious

日本人の知らない日本語
Japanese people don't know Japanese.
The Japanese that Japanese people don't know

What exactly is a subordinate clause? Note that the sentence above can be divided into two sentences. The cake he made is delicious cake. Making one dependent on the other. Subordinates are dependent sentences that exert one function over the other.

The particle [の] appeared exactly because it was something he did. There is a noun (cake) that was made and belongs to the pronoun (he). It's as if "made cake" were the noun or possession of the sentence.

Attention, the particle no [の] can only be used in the above case if a direct object is not present. Simply put, when you don't have the particle wo [を].

Turning verbs into nouns with no [の]

Another function of the [の] particle with verbs is to nominalize them. By using the no [の] particle after a verb, you kind of turn it into a noun. See the sentences below:

• Utau no ga suki [歌うのが好き] - I like to sing;
• Odoru no ga kirai [踊るのが嫌い] - I hate dancing;
• Asobuno wa omoshiroi [遊ぶのは面白い] - It's interesting to play;
• Taberu no ga daisuki [食べるのが大好き] - I love to eat;

泳ぐのはお母さんの趣味だ。
Swimming is my mother's hobby.
Swimming is my mother's hobby. 

The above sentence shows the particle transforming a verb into a noun and then being used as a possessive particle. Some people even believe that noga [のが] is a particle, but it is just the combination of the particle [の] with [が] or [は].

We have previously written an article that talks exactly about transforming nouns with the particle no [の]. If you want to read our article click here to learn more about no and koto.

Using the no [の] particle with adjectives

Many people claim the possibility of combining the particle no [の] with an adjective of both [い] type and [な] type; is this really possible? A single Japanese word can be a noun, verb, and adjective.

We need to understand that Japanese works differently from our language. An adjective or noun in Japanese is not always considered the same thing in English. So the answer to that question will depend on the point of view.

The great truth is that all the words used with the particle no [の] are nouns, even if they describe or give the impression of being an adjective. Here are some example sentences below:

• Fukutsu no hito [不屈の人] - Insufferable person;
• Himitsu no tokoro [秘密の所] - Secret place (mysterious);
• Tokubetsu no chiryou [特別の治療] - Special treatment;
• Takusan no kukkii [たくさんのクッキー] - Many cookies;
• Eternal love [永遠の愛] - Eternal love (from eternity);

All the sentences above have an adjective, but the meaning is not always that of an adjective. For example, takusan can mean abundant, but in the sentence above it conveyed the idea of many, since it is also a noun.

There are situations where we won't always know how to differentiate or translate a sentence, in the case of 愛の永遠, it could mean eternity of love. The interpretation depends on our knowledge and the second noun.

Fortunately, not all adjectives [な] can be used with the particle [の]. So we will hardly have any confusion to understand if that sentence refers to an adjective or a noun.

We use the particle [の] to turn nouns into adjectives that often don't exist in the form [な] or [い]. In cases where the noun acts as an adjective, the pronoun usually comes after the particle in [の].

Some of the sentences mentioned above could simply use [な] or [い]. When to know which one to use? Only time will clarify this doubt, but we can say that [な] conveys more of a "quality" idea while [の] is something more binary.

Some dictionaries like jisho categorize words as being adjectives of the type [の]. This can help avoid confusion.

Heads up: Some people make the mistake of joining adjectives [い] with nouns using the particle no [の]. adjectives in the form i [い] doesn't need any particles to connect with a noun.

Using the particle in [の] to equalize

You can use the particle no [の] to equalize, that is, to describe the relationship between two nouns. Thus, we can assign a description without implying that something belongs to another. It's like turning nouns into adjectives.

The difference is that we are going to put the pronoun after the particle in [の] instead of before. The examples below will help you understand what I'm trying to say:

• Shachou no Kebin-san [社長のケビンさん] - President Kevin;
• Tomodachi no Yamadasan [友達の山田さん] - My friend Yamada;
• Sensei no Yamada [先生の山田] - Professor Yamada;
• Aka no pen [赤のペン] - Red Pen;
• Yuki no shirosa [雪の白さ] - White Snow;
• Sarariiman no chichi [サラリーマンの父] - Salaryman father;
• Toyota of Cars [車のトヨタ] - Car Toyota;

Of course these examples are just alternatives of saying. I could just say Tanaka Sensei or Kevin Sanchou as a suffix. It is worth remembering that this is not always possible, just be aware of the most common ways of expressing yourself and the occasions they are used.

It is interesting to note that the examples of equalization that we saw above use many nouns that are also adjectives of the type [い].

Using the no [の] particle in questions

The particle in [の] can be used to emphasize questions and the end of some sentences. I think the best way to exemplify this is using the sentences below:

• Kuruma nano? [車なの？] - Is this a car?
• Mou, tabetano? [もう、食べたの？] - Have you eaten already?
• Doushitano? [どうかしたの？] - What happened? What’s wrong?
• What are you thinking about?[何を考えてるの？] - No que está pensando?
• Mada ikiteiruno? [まだ生きているの?] - Are you still alive?
• Ikuno? [行くの?] - Are we going? or Are you going?
• Are you going to school? [学校に行くのか]

Some of the sentences above can also be ended with the particle ka [か], which indicates a question. Or you can simply use both together to create a noka [のか].

What's the difference between using [の] or not at the end of the questions? One reason is that this particle conveys a strong sense of curiosity, improves intonation and prominence in the question.

どこの関節がはずれたの？
Where did the connection fail? 
Where did the joints go? 

Using no [の] at the end of sentences

The particle is not only used to ask questions, but they have other uses at the end of the sentence. Women often use this particle to indicate a conclusion, give an emotional emphasis, soften a command, etc.

The truth is that particle [の] at the end of sentences is not something exclusive to women or feminine as some think. Sentences with the particle [の] at the end are commonly used by children and even men in some situations.

The best way to understand the usefulness of the particle [の] at the end of sentences is with some examples:

• That's right! [そうなのよ] - Isso mesmo!
• Shiranakattano [知らなかったの] - I didn't know;
• I'm going to Kyoto [京都へ行きますの]
• Ookina koe dasanai no [大きな声出さないの] - Don't make a loud voice;
• Natsukashii nou [懐かしいのう] - I miss you;
• Chisaino [小さいの] - Small;

As mentioned, this particle carries an emotional emphasis. In the case of men who are more brutal and determined, they know different and better alternatives to end sentences.

The main cases where [の] is considered feminine is when it is followed by [です] or [ます]. When used in imperative sentences or ending in [くの] and [たの] it is normal to be spoken by men as well.

If you are in doubt whether a sentence with [の] is feminine or not, just read on, if you look like an effeminate, then look for a more masculine alternative.

ディズニーランドに行きたいの。
Dizunīrando ni ikitai no.
I want to go to Disney. 

コナンくんが大好きなの〜〜〜
Konan kun ga daisuki na no〜〜〜
I love Conan. 

It was really hard to write this long article. I hope you liked it and that it has answered all your questions regarding the particle no [の]. If you liked it, don't forget to share and leave your comments.