にほん ご vs にほん の

Hello!

In looking at the word Japanese (にほん ご) and Japanese beer (にほん の ビール), is the difference between using ご and  の because in the first instance we are referring to a person, whereas in the second instance we are referring to an object?  Which would mean that にほん の ビール literally means "beer of Japan"?

Thank you!!

ご = 語 = language.
You'll see it a lot: かんこくご ・Korean, スペインご ・Spanish, フランスご ・French, et cetera. It's not a particle.

にほんご
日本　語　= Japan + Language = Japanese

にほんじん
日本　人　= Japan + person/people = Japanese
 

Thank you!  The language/person part part I'm pretty good on.  I wanted to check that Japanese beer にほん の ビール literally translates to beer of Japan, making use of the particle の. 

I'm on a particle mission.  I've spent the past few days going over nothing but particles, and redoing all the previous lessons to make sure I understand how to use them for the most part.  They are all starting to fall into place - enough to even celebrate tonight with a bottle of wine!

えっ… I'd like Crystal to clarify if の is a possessive particle in this instance or a noun modifying particle, but either way it translates to "beer of Japan/Japanese beer".  (•‿•)

You definitely need to use the no particle for Japanese beer. It indicates possession in this case that signifies it is Japanese. 

Hi everyone!

「の」is indeed a possessive particle in this instance, and that phrase literally translates as the "beer of Japan", although it might be better translated as "Japanese beer". And, as 夫婦茶碗さん said, 「語」（ご）means language, and it is not a particle (:

夫婦茶碗さん, I am not quite sure what you mean by a noun modifying particle? Although, I guess if I really think about it, the「の」being a possessive particle does modify the noun it is used for? (I think this might be making it too complicated though haha.)

Hope that helps!

Crystal
 

"Noun modifying particle" is the name given to phrases where の is used, but does not indicate possession or ownership, or where it takes the place of English prepositions other than "of" (eta: this is my understanding, but please correct me if I'm wrong). It could very well be a case of splitting hairs. (^_^)  The Japanese Professor has an interesting read on the topic here: https://www.japaneseprofessor.com/lessons/beginning/modifying-particle-no/

 

Thanks so much!!