この

こ

の

Common wordJLPTN5Freq.FrequencyTop 100

Meanings

pre-noun adjectival

usually written using kana alone

Refers to something or someone close to the speaker, or ideas expressed by the speaker. The most basic demonstrative pre-noun adjective.

Written forms

このUsage100%
Standard kana spelling; the word is usually written in kana.
此このUsage<1%
rarely-used kanji form
Rare kanji form; learners should use この.
こんUsage<1%
kana-only spelling
コノUsage<1%
斯このUsage<1%
rarely-used kanji form
Rare kanji form; learners should use この.

Kanji

此this, current, next
斯this, thus, such

Similar words

その
その refers to something close to the listener or previously mentioned, while この refers to something close to the speaker.
あの
あの refers to something distant from both speaker and listener, while この refers to something close to the speaker.
どの
どの is the interrogative counterpart ('which'), while この is the proximal demonstrative ('this').

Etymology

Derived from the proximal demonstrative こ (ko) + the old possessive/genitive particle の (no). The kanji forms 此の and 斯の are historical and rarely used in modern Japanese.

Meanings

pre-noun adjectival

this

usually written using kana alone

Refers to something or someone close to the speaker, or ideas expressed by the speaker. The most basic demonstrative pre-noun adjective.