Synonym Nuance VS
How to say "This" in Japanese
Both words can translate to "this", but which should you choose?
Japanese Option A
ことし
ことし (kotoshi)
N5 / CEFR Syllabus
VS
Japanese Option B
今朝
けさ (kesa)
N4 / CEFR Syllabus
Nuance Contrast & Translation Difference
When translating "this" into Japanese, you must choose carefully between ことし and 今朝.
In Japanese, ことし (ことし (kotoshi)) is typically associated with "this year" (Syllabus Level: N5) and represents Refers to the current year. Often used as a noun indicating a specific time..
On the other hand, 今朝 (けさ (kesa)) maps to "this morning" (Syllabus Level: N4) and represents Refers specifically to the current morning. It is almost always used with past tense verbs to describe events that happened earlier in the day.. A literal translation of "this" can often sound unnatural to native Japanese speakers if mixed up!
Bilingual Context for "ことし"
ことしは日本へ行きます。
I will go to Japan this year.
Bilingual Context for "今朝"
今朝、早く起きました。
I woke up early this morning.
Nuance Mastery Quiz
Which Japanese word perfectly fits this blank space?
Fill in the blank: " ＿＿＿ は日本へ行きます。" (Meaning: "I will go to Japan this year.")
🎉 Correct Answer!
Remember: "ことし" fits here because it means "this year" in the context of: "I will go to Japan this year.". "今朝" represents "this morning".