Japanese Grammar In Its Natural Habitat
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の Particle (Explanation / Emotion)

の Particle (Explanation / Emotion)

の Particle (Explanation / Emotion) Japanese Grammar Lesson

Grammar Type: Particle

Essential Meaning: It is that / It’s because / The reason is that

Construction: 

  • (Verb / い-Adjective) informal + の
    • E.g. 話はなすの [It’s because X talks]
    • E.g. 大おおきいの [It’s because X is big]
  • (な-Adjective stem / Noun) + [な / だった] + の
    • E.g. 静しずかなの [It’s because X is quiet]
    • E.g. 先生せんせいなの [It’s because X is a teacher]

Notes:

  • This form of the の particle is derived from the expression のだ through the omission of だ. の (Explanation / Emotion) indicates that the speaker is explaining or asking for an explanation about some info that has been previously shared with the hearer. It can also indicate that the speaker is talking about something emotively and expecting that the topic is of common interest to the hearer. It’s similar to saying “So…” or “You know…“; not only does it convey information emotively, but it sets an expectation for a response.
    • E.g. A: どうして泣ないているの？ B: お母かあさんがいないの。[A: How come you are crying? B: It’s because my mom isn’t here.] In this example, Speaker A uses の to seek an explanation, and speaker B uses の to provide an explanation.
    • E.g. 母はははまだとても元気げんきなの。[My mother is still very healthy.] In this example, the の particle is used to convey emotion with the expectation that the mother’s health is of concern to the hearer.
    • E.g. あの人ひとはとてもやさしいの。[That person is very gentle, you know?] In this example, the speaker is making a statement and setting the expectation that the hearer will respond or engage somehow.
  • の (Explanation / Emotion) is commonly used by females and children in informal situations, but there are also situations where a male may use it interrogatively to seek an explanation.
    • E.g. どうして食たべないの。[Why aren’t you eating?]
    • E.g. どうしたの。[What’s the matter with you?]

Example Sentences:

A: どうして泣ないているの？ B: お母かあさんがいないの。[A: How come you are crying? B: It’s because my mom isn’t here.]

あの人ひとはとてもやさしいの。[That person is very gentle, you know?]

主人しゅじんはエンジニアなの。[So my husband is an engineer.]

WILD Examples:

At 1:03, listen for this line: キスから先さきに進すすめない, 臆病おくびょうすぎるの [I’m unable to go further than a kiss…because I’m too cowardly.] In this example, being too cowardly is a the singer’s explanation / excuse for being unable to go further than a kiss.
At 1:24, listen for this line: 空そらはこんなに青あおいのに、かぜはこんなに暖あたたかいのに、太陽たいようはとても明あかるいのに, どうしてこんなに眠ねむいの [Even though the sky is this blue, even though the wind is this warm, and even though the sun is so bright, why am I this sleepy?]
From 2:05, listen for this line: 一人ひとり部屋へやで長ながい長ながい髪かみをとかしながら考かんがえている私わたしのこんな暮くららしいつまで続つづくの [Alone in this room, while brushing my long long hair, I’m wondering how long my life will continue like this]
At 1:30, listen for this line: Take me, この私わたし全部ぜんぶあげたいの [Take me, I want to give my everything to you]
Listen to this line at 2:49: 知しらないこと、やりたいこと、たくさんあるの [Things I want to know, things I want to do, there are many!]

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