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の

's, of (linking nouns)

Noun + の + Noun

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の joins two nouns so that the first describes the second. Often it's possession, like 's: 私の本, "my book"; 田中さんの車, "Mr Tanaka's car".

It covers much more than ownership, though: 日本語の本 is a Japanese book (or a book about Japanese), 大学の先生 is a university teacher, 三時の電車 is the three o'clock train.

The order is always describer first, thing described last. That's the reverse of English "of": 東京の駅 is "the station in Tokyo".

When the second noun is obvious you can leave it out: これは私のです, "this is mine".

Examples

  • これは私わたしの本ほんです。

    This is my book.

  • 田中たなかさんは日本語にほんごの先生せんせいです。

    Mr Tanaka is a Japanese teacher.

  • 母ははの車くるまは赤あかいです。

    My mother's car is red.

  • 七時しちじの電車でんしゃに乗のります。

    I'll take the seven o'clock train.

  • そのかさは誰だれのですか。

    Whose umbrella is that?

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