How to Say ‘It's a hand-me-down from my father.’ in Japanese
父のお下がりなんです。
chichi no o sagari na n desu
[chee-chee no o sah-GAH-ree nah n dess]
💬 Usage Tip: 父 (chichi) is how you refer to your own father when talking to others. Someone else's father is お父さん.
Phrase Breakdown
父の
chichi no
my father's
父 (chichi) is 'my father', used for your own father. の shows possession, like 's.
これは父の車です。
This is my father's car.
Words in this phrase
父
chichi
[chee-chee]
(my) father; father (humble in some contexts)
Means “father.” When talking about your own family to others, 「父」 is the standard (more formal) word (vs. 「お父さん」).
さくらの父です。
This is Sakura’s father.
の
no
[no]
of; 's
A particle linking a noun to what belongs to it or describes it.
あなたの強みは責任感です。
Your strength is a sense of responsibility.
お下がりなんです。
o sagari na n desu
it's a hand-me-down.
お下がり (osagari) means 'a hand-me-down'. なんです adds a soft, explaining tone. Say it as o-sa-ga-ri-nan-desu.
この服は兄のお下がりなんです。
These clothes are hand-me-downs from my older brother.
Words in this phrase
お
o
[o]
polite prefix
Used before nouns to make them polite.
お茶をどうぞ。
Please have some tea.
下がり
sagari
[sah-GAH-ree]
hand-me-down
With お, お下がり means an item passed down from someone else.
兄のお下がりを着ている。
I wear my brother's hand-me-downs.
な
na
[nah]
copula linker before ん
Form of だ used before んです after nouns.
休みなんです。
It's my day off, you see.
ん
n
[n]
explanatory tone
Adds explanation or background to what the speaker is saying.
写真のプロジェクトをしているんだ。
I'm doing a photography project, you know.
です
desu
[dess]
is; polite copula
A polite sentence ending used in formal conversation.
少し伺いたいです。
I would like to ask a little.
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