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Grammar detail: ただの〜

ただの〜
simply~; merely; it's just a~
207 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
実
は
それはただのうわさだったよ。
Actually, it was only a rumor.
ベスはただの
こども
子供
だ。
Bess is simply a child.
ただの
かぜ
風邪
でしょう。
You probably just have a cold.
たし
確
かに
きのう
昨日
すれ
ちが
違
った
が、ただの
ぐうぜん
偶然
だと
おも
思
います
。
Yes, we did indeed pass by each other yesterday, but I think it was just a coincidence.
ただの
じょうだん
冗談
だよ。
おこ
怒
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
大
した
しごと
仕事
をやっていません。ただの
かいしゃいん
会社員
ですから。
My work is nothing special. I’m just a regular employee.
ただの
した
下
っ
ぱ
端
です。
I'm just an underling.
ただの
はな
花
で、すみませんが。
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
はただの
がくせい
学生
ではないですよ。
She’s no ordinary student.
あれはただの
くるま
車
じゃないみたい。
Apparently that’s not just any car.
ただの
かいしゃ
会社
で
はたら
働
きたい
と
おも
思
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'.
ただの
ちゅうしゃじょう
駐車場
を
さが
探
しています
。
I’m looking for a free car park.
ただの
せき
席
がなくなったみたい。
It seems like the free seating has all been taken.
よ
世
の
なか
中
にただのものはない
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
高
い
ものはありません。
You never get something for nothing.
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Kanji used in this grammar

無
ム   ブ   ない not   
料
リョウ    fee   
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実
ジツ    fruit; reality   み fruit, nut   みのる to bear fruit   
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子
シ   ス   こ child   
供
キョウ   ク   そなえる to make an offering   とも servant, attendant   
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風
フ   フウ   かぜ wind   かざ-    
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邪
ジャ    evil, wrong   
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確
カク   たしか certain   たしかめる to make certain   
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昨
サク    yesterday   
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日
ニチ   ジツ   sun; day   ひ    -か    
違
イ   different   ちがう to be different   ちがえる to change, alter, vary   
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偶
グウ    accidentally   
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然
ゼン   ネン    resemble   
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思
シ   おもう to think   
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冗
ジョウ    superfluous   
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談
ダン    discussion   
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怒
ド   angry   おこる    いかる to be angry   
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大
ダイ   タイ   おおきい big   おおいに very much   おお-    
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仕
シ   ジ   つかえる to attend to   
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事
ジ   ズ   こと thing; matter   
会
カイ   エ   あう to meet   
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社
シャ    company   やしろ Shinto shrine   
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員
イン    employee   
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下
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   くだる to descend   くだす to judge   くださる to give   おろす to drop off (passenger)   おりる to get off (train)   
端
タン   edge   は    はし    はた    
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花
カ   はな flower   
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彼
ヒ   かれ he   
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女
ジョ   ニョ   ニョウ   woman; female   おんな woman   め woman   
学
ガク   まなぶ to learn   
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生
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   うむ to give birth to   き pure, undiluted   おう to grow, to sprout   はえる to grow, to sprout   はやす to grow, cultivate   
車
シャ   くるま car   
働
ドウ   はたらく to work   
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駐
チュウ    stop over   
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場
ジョウ   ば place   
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探
タン   さぐる to grope for   さがす to search for   
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席
セキ    seat   
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世
セ   セイ   よ the world   
中
チュウ   ジュウ   なか middle   
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高
コウ   expensive; high   たか    たかい expensive, tall, high   たかまる to be elevated   たかめる to promote, heighten   
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