Grammar Info

N3 Lesson 2: 16/22

もの・もんBecause, Cause

Can sound childish/cute

Structure

Verb + (んだ) + もの(1)
い-Adj + (んだ) + もの(1)
な-Adj + (なん) + + もの(1)
Noun + (なん) + + もの(1)

(1) もん

Details

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About もの・もん

もの, an extremely common noun in Japanese that means 'thing', can also be used as a sentence ending particle. In these cases, it adds a small amount of emotion to a statement, and presents it as a reason. Due to this, もの is usually translated as 'because', or 'cause'. Literally, it just means 'it's an (A) thing!'. もの is quite casual, so should be avoided in formal situations.

To use もの as 'because', attach it to the end of the plain form of any word.

To emphasize もの even further, the explanatory んだ (after a verb or い-Adjective), or なんだ (after a な-Adjective or noun) will often be used.

Caution

もの can be shortened to もん in its use as a sentence ending particle. However, this makes the statement sound far more 'cute' or 'childish'. Due to this, it should be avoided in standard conversation.

  • もう(なか)いっぱいだもん
    Cause I'm already full.
  • いいよ、お(まえ)もう(あそ)ばないもん
    It's all good! (Because) I'm not going to play with you anymore! (Showing mild anger/jokingly)

Fun Fact

Although it is not used regularly in standard Japanese, んですもの is a slightly more polite version of んだもの that appears frequently in anime, manga, and novels.

  • こんなものすぐに(こわ)れるに()まっているじゃないですか、(かみ)から出来(でき)てるんですもの
    Of course something like this will break instantly. (Because) it is made of paper.
  • しょうがないですよ、あの(ひと)(なに)(かんが)えていないですもの
    We can't help it. (Because) that person doesn't think about anything.

Examples

--:--

    まずいんだもん

    (Because) it tastes bad!

    彼女(かのじょ)(うそ)をついているもの

    (Because) she is lying.

    (おこ)らないでね。子供(こども)なんだもん

    Don't be angry. (Because) he is just a kid.

    (さむ)んだもん風邪(かぜ)をひいてしまうよ。

    (Because) it's freezing. I'm gonna catch a cold, man!

    ()べすぎ!」って()われても…、美味(おい)しいんだもん

    Even if someone says 'you are eating too much!'... (Because) it's delicious! (so I can't help it)

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もの・もん – Grammar Discussion

Most Recent Replies (10 in total)

  • shary

    shary

    Good news everyone.

    We can add a video from Japanese Ammo with Misa (Make Excuses & Justify Yourself Like the Japanese もん/もの/んだもん!JLPT N2 - YouTube) in the readings for this grammar point and also https://bunpro.jp/grammar_points/346

  • FredKore

    FredKore

    The Information section of the grammar page needs to be cleaned up. The words “because” and “cause” are not the same meaning. When “because” is shortened in casual conversation, an apostrophe is used to show the contraction:
    do not → don’t
    should not → shouldn’t
    because → 'cause

    Without the contraction apostrophe, the word “cause” is a different meaning.

    'cause Definition & Meaning - Merriam-Webster
    Cause Definition & Meaning - Merriam-Webster
    Because Definition & Meaning - Merriam-Webster
    (notice the Synonym section for “because” includes “'cause”)

  • bokudake

    bokudake

    Is なだもの wrong? Because it sounds unnatural?

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