adverbial N2 uncommon casualpolitewritten
そのもの — itself
そのもの
Meaning
- itself / the very ~ / ~ personified — emphasizing that a noun is the thing in its purest or fullest form
Key sentence
彼女の態度は誠実そのものだった。
Her attitude was sincerity itself.
Formation
| Attaches to | Form | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Noun / な-adjective stem | N + そのもの | 健康そのもの |
Examples
その計画そのものに問題がある。
There's a problem with the plan itself.
彼の人生は冒険そのものだった。
His life was adventure itself.
Easily confused with
Notes
- With a な-adjective stem, そのもの means 'the very embodiment of' (真面目そのもの 'seriousness itself').
See そのもの in real sentences
Jengo shows そのもの the way you actually meet it: inside real Japanese sentences, so it sticks instead of staying an abstract rule.
Study it in JengoSources Compiled with reference to A Dictionary of Advanced Japanese Grammar.