Introduction

In Japanese, 「〜の〜」 is a versatile grammatical structure used to express ownership, belonging, or origin.
Whether you’re talking about your possessions, a group you belong to, or where something is made, this structure is essential for building clear sentences in everyday conversation.
In this beginner-friendly guide, you’ll learn how to use 「〜の〜」 effectively with practical examples.

What is “〜の〜”?

Structure

• A の B
• AのB means “B of A” or “A’s B” in English. It shows a possessive relationship, belonging, or origin between two nouns.

Usage of “〜の〜”

1. Ownership: “A’s B”
2. Belonging: “B of A” (Where B belongs to A, or is part of A)
3. Origin/Production: “B from A” (Where B is made or produced in A)

1. Ownership: A’s B

his usage expresses that A owns or has B.

1: My book

私の本です。
わたしのほんです。
Watashi no hon desu.
It is my book.

2: Emily’s bag

エミリーさんのかばんです。
えみりーさんのかばんです。
Emirii-san no kaban desu.
It is Emily’s bag.

2. Belonging: B of A

This can also refer to things that belong to a group or category.

1: The teacher’s desk

先生の机です。
せんせいのつくえです。
Sensei no tsukue desu.
It is the teacher’s desk.

2: The student’s notebook

学生のノートです。
がくせいののーとです。
Gakusei no nooto desu.
It is the student’s notebook.

3. Origin/Production: B from A

This expresses the origin or production place of something.

1: A Japanese car

日本の車です。
にほんのくるまです。
Nihon no kuruma desu.
It is a Japanese car.

2: A Parisian restaurant

パリのレストランです。
ぱりのれすとらんです。
Pari no resutoran desu.
It is a Parisian restaurant.

Vocabulary from This Lesson

Here are the key Japanese words used in this lesson:

• 私（わたし）: I / me (watashi)
• 本（ほん）: book (hon)
• かばん: bag (kaban)
• 先生（せんせい）: teacher (sensei)
• 机（つくえ）: desk (tsukue)
• 学生（がくせい）: student (gakusei)
• ノート: notebook (nooto)
• 日本（にほん）: Japan (Nihon)
• 車（くるま）: car (kuruma)
• パリ: Paris (Pari)
• レストラン: restaurant (resutoran)

Why Learn “〜の〜”?

The structure 「〜の〜」 is one of the most useful and common grammatical patterns in Japanese.
By mastering it, you’ll be able to express:

By mastering it, you’ll be able to express:

• Ownership (e.g., “My bag”)
• Belonging (e.g., “The teacher’s desk”)
• Origin or production (e.g., “A French wine” or “A German car”)
  It’s essential for clear communication in both casual and formal settings.