JLPT N5 grammar
の (no) — Meaning & Examples
Possessive particle linking owner to possession: わたしのほん (my book). Also links descriptive nouns: にほんごのきょうかしょ (Japanese language textbook).
My, Your, His, Her — の (no)
Japanese uses the particle の (no) to show possession — similar to "apostrophe s" in English.
Structure: [Owner] の [Thing owned]
わたしの ほん — my book
あなたの かばん — your bag
せんせいの くるま — the teacher's car
にほんの たべもの — Japanese food (food of Japan)
の also links nouns to describe them:
にほんごの きょうかしょ — Japanese language textbook
とうきょうの えき — Tokyo station
Dropping the noun after の:
When the possessed object is obvious from context, it can be dropped:
これは わたしのです。— This is mine.
(Full: これは わたしの [かばん] です)
Answering "whose?":
だれのですか？ — Whose is it?
わたしのです。 — It's mine.
やまださんのです。 — It's Yamada-san's.
Practise の (no) in the free app
This point is part of the “Sentence Structure and です” lesson in A Star Japanese. Study it with examples, a quiz, flashcards and timed JLPT N5 mock exams. Free on iPhone and Android.
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Related N5 grammar points
From the same lesson: Sentence Structure and です
Frequently asked questions
What does の (no) mean?
Possessive particle linking owner to possession: わたしのほん (my book). Also links descriptive nouns: にほんごのきょうかしょ (Japanese language textbook).
Is の (no) on the JLPT N5 test?
の (no) is taught in the JLPT N5 grammar course in A Star Japanese (lesson “Sentence Structure and です”), so it is a pattern learners at this level are expected to recognise. The JLPT does not publish an official grammar list, so treat this as a study guide rather than an official requirement.
How can I practise の (no)?
Open the “Sentence Structure and です” lesson in the free A Star Japanese app for iPhone and Android. It has examples, a quiz after every lesson, flashcards with spaced repetition and timed JLPT N5 mock exams, with no ads.