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Grammar detail: ただの〜

ただの〜  simply~; merely; it's just a~
203 words
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ただの
+
noun
adjective
means
simply~; merely; it's just a~
ただの can be used when one wishes to point out that A is simply B. The expression often has the connotation “it’s nothing to fuss about”.
It can be used as a neutral expression, however depending on the context and the listener’s perspective it may feel like it is minimizing the matter being discussed. It can also be used as a way for the speaker to show modesty or express humility.
By adding ではない to the end of a sentence that uses ただの the meaning is somewhat reversed.

When used neutrally, or to minimize:

じつ
それただうわさだった
Actually, it was only a rumor.
ベスただ
こども
子供

Bess is simply a child.
ただ
かぜ
風邪
でしょ
You probably just have a cold.
たし
かに
きのう
昨日
すれ
ちが
った
ただ
ぐうぜん
偶然
おも
います

Yes, we did indeed pass by each other yesterday, but I think it was just a coincidence.
ただ
じょうだん
冗談
おこ
らなくてもいい
じゃん
It’s just a joke. You don’t have to get angry.

When used to show modesty or express humility:

たい
した
しごと
仕事
やっていませんただ
かいしゃいん
会社員
ですから
My work is nothing special. I’m just a regular employee.
ただ
した
です
I'm just an underling.
ただ
はな
すみません
I apologize that they’re just flowers.

When used with ではない to mean ‘no ordinary’; ‘not just any’:

かのじょ
彼女
ただ
がくせい
学生
ではないです
She’s no ordinary student.
あれただ
くるま
じゃないみたい
Apparently that’s not just any car.
ただ
かいしゃ
会社
はたら
きたい
おも
わない

I don’t want to work at just any company.

When ただ means ‘free’:

The difference in meaning can usually be determined from the context. Note:
むりょう
無料
is commonly used to describe a range of things as 'free'.
ただ
ちゅうしゃじょう
駐車場
さが
しています

I’m looking for a free car park.
ただ
せき
なくなったみたい
It seems like the free seating has all been taken.
なか
ただものない
There is nothing free in the world.
ただの in the final example is worded much the same way as the English expression. However, the more commonly used expression in Japanese is:
ただより
たか
ものありません
You never get something for nothing.
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Kanji used in this grammar

ム   ブ   な not   
リョウ    fee   
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ジツ    fruit; reality   み fruit, nut   みの to bear fruit   
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シ   ス   こ child   
キョウ   ク   そなえる to make an offering   とも servant, attendant   
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フ   フウ   かぜ wind   かざ-    
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ジャ    evil, wrong   
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カク   たし certain   たしかめる to make certain   
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サク    yesterday   
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ニチ   ジツ   sun; day   ひ    -か    
イ   different   ちが to be different   ちがえる to change, alter, vary   
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グウ    accidentally   
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ゼン   ネン    resemble   
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シ   おも to think   
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ジョウ    superfluous   
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ダン    discussion   
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ド   angry   おこ    いか to be angry   
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ダイ   タイ   おおきい big   おおいに very much   おお-    
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シ   ジ   つかえる to attend to   
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ジ   ズ   こと thing; matter   
カイ   エ   あ to meet   
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シャ    company   やしろ Shinto shrine   
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イン    employee   
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カ   ゲ   した below, under   しも bottom part   もと under (influence)   さげる to lower, to reduce   さがる to be lowered   くだ to descend   くだ to judge   くださる to give   おろす to drop off (passenger)   おりる to get off (train)   
タン   edge   は    はし    はた    
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カ   はな flower   
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ヒ   かれ he   
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ジョ   ニョ   ニョウ   woman; female   おんな woman   め woman   
ガク   まな to learn   
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セイ   ショウ    life   なま raw   いかす to enliven   いきる to live   いける to arrange flowers   うまれる to be born   う to give birth to   き pure, undiluted   お to grow, to sprout   はえる to grow, to sprout   はやす to grow, cultivate   
シャ   くるま car   
ドウ   はたら to work   
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チュウ    stop over   
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ジョウ   ば place   
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タン   さぐ to grope for   さが to search for   
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セキ    seat   
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セ   セイ   よ the world   
チュウ   ジュウ   なか middle   
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コウ   expensive; high   たか    たか expensive, tall, high   たかまる to be elevated   たかめる to promote, heighten   
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