物 means “thing”

もの · mono

Also: object, matter

Kun'yomi (Japanese reading)

もの

On'yomi (Chinese reading)

ブツ, モツ

JLPT N4 · Taught in grade 3 · 8 strokes

The story

An ox and a knife: the goods an ancient household counted as wealth. Japanese piles meaning onto 物: shopping is 買い物, stories are 物語, and the gentle sorrow of existence is 物の哀れ.

Used in 買い物 (kaimono, shopping), 食べ物 (tabemono, food), and 荷物 (nimotsu, luggage)

Words with 物

• 見物 (けんぶつ, kenbutsu): sightseeing
• 買物 (かいもの, kaimono): shopping
• 煮物 (にもの, nimono): simmered dish
• 揚物 (あげもの, agemono): fried food
• 鍋物 (なべもの, nabemono): hot pot cuisine
• 刃物 (はもの, hamono): cutlery / bladed tool

More from Everyday Japan

• 電 electricity
• 真 true
• 有 possess
• 何 what
• 映 reflect
• 毎 every
• 写 copy
• 便 convenience
• 服 clothing
• 曜 day of week
• 飯 meal
• 洗 wash

Learn 物 and more kanji free on Fuji Learning · All kanji

Readings from KANJIDIC2, © EDRDG, CC BY-SA.