(no)
Possessive particle ('of'); also nominalizes verbs and adjectives.
Usage Frequency
ESSENTIAL
N5
JLPT

Definition

The particle 'の' is used to indicate possession, akin to the English 'of' or the possessive 's'. It can also nominalize verbs and adjectives.

How to Use

Noun1 + の + Noun2; Verb (dictionary form) + の; Adjective + の
Common Usage
Noun1 + の + Noun2

Context, Limitations and Specificities

When to use?
Used to show possession or relation between two nouns, or to nominalize a verb for making it a noun-like expression.
Limitations and specificities
It is primarily used in attributive cases, such as indicating possession or as a nominalizer.

Example Sentences

私の本
わたしのほん
watashi no hon
My book
犬の名前
いぬのなまえ
inu no namae
The dog's name
学校の先生
がっこうのせんせい
gakkou no sensei
The school's teacher
映画を見るのが好きです
えいがをみるのがすきです
eiga o miru no ga suki desu
I like watching movies
雨の日
あめのひ
ame no hi
A rainy day
晴れの日
はれのひ
hare no hi
A sunny day
彼の友達
かれのともだち
kare no tomodachi
His friend
日本の文化
にほんのぶんか
nihon no bunka
Japanese culture
母の車
ははのくるま
haha no kuruma
Mother's car
先生の話
せんせいのはなし
sensei no hanashi
The teacher's story