こと
Meanings
Noun
Usually written in kana
1. thing; matter
2. incident; occurrence; event; something serious; trouble; crisis
3. circumstances; situation; state of affairs
4. work; business; affair
5. after an inflectable word, creates a noun phrase indicating something the speaker does not feel close to
Suffix
Usually written in kana
6. nominalizing suffix
7. pretending to ...; playing make-believe ...
Noun
Usually written in kana
8. alias; also known as; otherwise known as; or
as AことB (A = alias, B = real name)
9. necessity; need
as 〜ことはない
10. you should ...; I advise that you ...; it's important to ...
as 〜ことだ
Pitch accent
Top 100
Used in vocabulary (210 in total)
to have been decided (so) that; to have been arranged (so) that; to be the result (of); to be the outcome; to be the reason (for)
to be able (to); to be possible (to)
(for something) to have occurred; to have done (something); (for something) to happen on occasion
there is no need to ...; never happens; there is never a time when
to decide to; to pretend that; to make a practice of doing; to make it a rule to
that is to say; so that means
that; the matter in question
to be able (to); to be possible (to)
(something) has never occurred; to have never done (something); such a thing has not happened; never happens; there is never a time when
good thing; nice thing; good excuse; good grounds; interjection used to impress an idea or to urge a response
I'm told; is what I heard; is how it is, apparently; is what they said
via; through; by doing; by means of; using
to have been decided (so) that; to have been arranged (so) that
My goodness!; Good lord!; Holy cow!
(the thing) itself
a matter of course; what is to be expected; par for the course
to do what one is told to; to take someone's advice; to listen to what someone says
good thing; nice thing; good excuse; good grounds; interjection used to impress an idea or to urge a response
there is no need to ...; never happens; there is never a time when
by (means of); by doing; due to; via; through
for a long time
trifles; minor details
this for sure; certainly is
trouble; problem; mess; difficulty; nuisance
rather; sooner; preferably
trivial; not amounting to much
of all people
common occurrence; everyday occurrence; not an uncommon case; normal thing; everyday affair
(something) has never occurred; to have never done (something); such a thing has not happened; never happens; there is never a time when
fortunately; luckily; thankfully
beyond one's control; nothing one can do
not ... for nothing; not ... with nothing to show for it; worthwhile; no wonder ...
all the more; still more
good thing; nice thing; good excuse; good grounds; interjection used to impress an idea or to urge a response
that is to say; so that means
just managing; with great difficulty
no matter what happens; in any circumstances; at any price
nothing special; no big deal; doesn't matter; nothing to worry about
emergency; accident; rare possibility; unexpected occurrence
at every opportunity; for each and every thing that crops up; with every little thing; whenever possible; whenever the chance arises; at every turn
could result in (something undesirable); might end up (doing, happening); run the risk of
trivial; not amounting to much
bygones; the past; past event
as if it were about oneself
as if it were about oneself
thankfully; fortunately; luckily; mercifully
to devote oneself; to do one thing exclusively; to make a job of; to decide to
to revel in trouble and discord; to be bent on making trouble; to like starting fights
of all things (days, etc.)
trivial; not amounting to much; not a big deal
things to do; must-do items; one's duty; what is required
something unrelated (to what has been discussed thus far)
mixture of fact and fiction; half-truth
all the more; still more
to do a silly thing
undoubted; unmistakable; definite
bygones; the past; past event
to do what one is told to; to take someone's advice; to listen to what someone says
nothing special; no big deal; doesn't matter
things to do; must-do items; one's duty; what is required
everything one does; whatever one does
matter; thing; affair; circumstance
depending on the circumstances; due to (with modifying verb)
personal affair; one's own affair
trivial; not amounting to much; not a big deal
to cause trouble; to cause a disturbance
to find fault with other people rather than oneself; (for the pot) to call the kettle black
to proceed with things; to carry out; to do
nothing one can say (e.g. about something perfect); not a thing one can complain about; better than one could hope for
to one's delight; to one's joy
unless (you do something)
to breathe one's last; to pass away; to die; to expire
to go ahead; to proceed; to carry on
My goodness!; Good lord!; Holy cow!
I told you so; you see that?
to reach a situation about which nothing can be done
something like that; that sort of thing; something natural; something plausible
for a long time
to lack
things; matters
origin of an affair; spark that lit the fuse; beginning
if possible; if it is in my power; if it was realistic
without accident; uneventfully; without ...
what happens twice will happen thrice
to breathe one's last; to pass away; to die; to expire
for a long time
to end without incident; to not turn into something serious
detailed; minute
to do a silly thing
to suffice; to serve the purpose; to be satisfied
personal affair; one's own affair
take the opportunity to (do something else)
good thing; nice thing; good excuse; good grounds; interjection used to impress an idea or to urge a response
trifles; minor details
to one's delight; to one's joy
the unthinkable
trivial; not amounting to much
trouble; problem; mess; difficulty; nuisance
fortunately; luckily; thankfully
I told you so; you see that?
circumstances
how it came about; how it originated; how it happened; the origins of the imbroglio
almost; very nearly
(the thing) itself
at every opportunity; for each and every thing that crops up; with every little thing; whenever possible; whenever the chance arises; at every turn
to pretend
detailed; minute
detailed; minute; articulate
thankfully; fortunately; luckily; mercifully
everything
everything one does; whatever one does
(principle of) letting sleeping dogs lie; peace-at-any-price; don't rock the boat
a matter of course; what is to be expected; par for the course
taking up a new line of work; the beginning of things; starting the preparations for New Year's festivities (December 8 in Tokyo, December 13 in Kyoto); resuming work after the New Year's vacation
I'm telling you this for your own good; here's some friendly advice
so ... that ...; to that extent; to that degree
so ... that ...; to that extent; to that degree
to reach a situation about which nothing can be done
to take an aggressive position; to stir up trouble
to find fault with other people rather than oneself; (for the pot) to call the kettle black
rather; sooner; preferably
if possible; if it is in my power; if it was realistic
nothing one can say (e.g. about something perfect); not a thing one can complain about; better than one could hope for
mixture of fact and fiction; half-truth
to cause trouble; to cause a disturbance
mixture of fact and fiction; half-truth
to suffice; to serve the purpose; to be satisfied
something that goes without saying; something that needn't be said; something that should rather be left unsaid
nothing one can say (e.g. about something perfect); not a thing one can complain about; better than one could hope for
to reason with (a person)
so ... that ...; to that extent; to that degree
so ... that ...; to that extent; to that degree
unless (you do something)
undoubted; unmistakable; definite
rather; sooner; preferably
to go ahead; to proceed; to carry on
taking up a new line of work; the beginning of things; starting the preparations for New Year's festivities (December 8 in Tokyo, December 13 in Kyoto); resuming work after the New Year's vacation
complete fabrication
not one to talk; who are you to say; look who's talking
the same thing
to make trouble; to rock the boat; to make waves; to aggravate a situation
as if it were about oneself
as if it were about oneself
to reason with (a person)
to end without incident; to not turn into something serious
trivial; not amounting to much; not a big deal
how it came about; how it originated; how it happened; the origins of the imbroglio
nothing special; no big deal; doesn't matter; nothing to worry about
as if it were about oneself
as if it were about oneself
something that goes without saying; something that needn't be said; something that should rather be left unsaid
to find fault with other people rather than oneself; (for the pot) to call the kettle black
to revel in trouble and discord; to be bent on making trouble; to like starting fights
mixture of fact and fiction; half-truth
I'm telling you this for your own good; here's some friendly advice
detailed; minute; articulate
something like that; that sort of thing; something natural; something plausible
any time now (waiting, hoping for something to happen)
all the more; still more
undoubted; unmistakable; definite
unprecedented; new (and different); fresh; contrived; affected
to tell the truth; in actuality; in reality
to tell the truth; in actuality; in reality
emergency; accident; rare possibility; unexpected occurrence
origin of an affair; spark that lit the fuse; beginning
so ... that ...; to that extent; to that degree
so ... that ...; to that extent; to that degree
all's right with the world; all is as it should be
accident; incident; trouble; circumstances; reasons
project; enterprise; business; (arch.) act; (arch.) deed; (arch.) conduct
secret; secrecy
Shinto ritual
to end without incident; to not turn into something serious
not one to talk; who are you to say; look who's talking
encyclopedia; cyclopedia
(principle of) letting sleeping dogs lie; peace-at-any-price; don't rock the boat
in everything
what happens twice will happen thrice
to suffice; to serve the purpose; to be satisfied
so ... that ...; to that extent; to that degree
so ... that ...; to that extent; to that degree
detailed; minute
all's right with the world; all is as it should be
if things permit; under certain circumstances
to tell the truth; in actuality; in reality
uneventful; peaceful; easy; simple; having nothing to do
to do something different; to make a big thing of
to not turn out as one wishes; to not go as one expected
the parent is the best judge of the child
to find an excuse
on the plea of; under the pretext of
mistake in speaking
anew; again; specially; formally
the parent is the best judge of the child
nobody knows the morrow; (lit.) speak of next year and the ogres laugh
things to do; must-do items; one's duty; what is required
mixture of fact and fiction; half-truth
message that a messenger brings back home; reply; ode in reply; return gift
wife; bride
Examples (200 in total)
He didn't even know that.
I won't allow it!
Can't you even do this?