Meaning & usage
ただの comes before a noun to present it as ordinary or nothing more than what it is, often to downplay its importance or correct an overestimation. It attaches directly to a noun, as in ただの学生 or ただの水, with no change to the noun itself. It is neutral and common in both speech and writing, but it must always be followed by a noun and cannot finish a sentence on its own.
Example sentences 8
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確かにこれはただの誤解です。
I'm sure this is all a misunderstanding.
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ただの風のいたずらだよ。
It's just a trick of the wind.
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ベスはただの子供だ。
Bess is simply a child.
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お金はただの紙切れだ。
Money is just paper.
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これはただの水だよ。
This is just water.
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いいえ、先生じゃないです。ただの学生です。
No, I'm not a teacher. I'm only a student.
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ただの赤青メガネじゃないぞ。
They aren't just any 3-D glasses.
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ただのまぐれだと思うよ。
I guess it was just a lucky guess.
In past JLPT papers
This came up in 1 past exam question.
