A tangible thing or object; an item or article (physical substance or stuff).
彼は古い物を集めるのが趣味だ。
He collects old things as a hobby.
机の上に不思議な物が置いてあった。
There was a strange object on the desk.
これは壊れやすい物だから、気を付けて運んでください。
This is fragile, so please carry it carefully.
One's things, possessions, or belongings (often used as 〜のもの: belonging to ～).
これは私の物です。勝手に触らないでください。
This is mine. Please don't touch it without permission.
旅行の前に、忘れ物がないか自分の物を確認した。
Before the trip I checked my belongings to make sure I hadn't forgotten anything.
その本は彼のものではなく、図書館の物だった。
That book didn't belong to him; it was library property.
A general reference to things/something/anything/everything or nothing (a broad, non-specific 'thing').
何か良い物はないかな。プレゼントに使いたいんだ。
Is there anything good? I want to use it as a present.
世の中には不思議な物がたくさんある。
There are many mysterious things in the world.
物は考えようで、見方を変えれば役に立つこともある。
It depends on how you look at things; if you change your perspective, something can be useful.
Quality or caliber (used to indicate the worth, talent, or level of something or someone).
彼の演奏は格が違う。やはり物があるね。
His playing is in a different class. He really has talent.
この時計は安物とは違って、物がいい。
This watch, unlike cheap ones, is of good quality.
The way of things; the natural course or reason (often used in constructions like 〜ものだ to mean it is natural/inevitable).
人生は思い通りにならないものだ。
Life doesn't always go the way you want.
人は年を取れば、考え方も変わるものだ。
As people age, their way of thinking naturally changes.
Used to emphasize feelings or judgments, indicate past habitual actions, general tendencies, or what should be done (often written in kana and used in patterns like 〜ものだ).
子どものころはよく近所で遊んだものだ。
I used to play around the neighborhood a lot when I was a child.
そんな乱暴な言い方をするものではない。
You shouldn't speak so harshly.
努力すれば道は開けるものだ。
If you make an effort, opportunities will open up.
As a suffix meaning an item classified as a particular kind or a work in a certain genre (e.g., 学園もの = works about school life).
学園もののアニメは若者に人気がある。
School-life anime are popular with young people.
最近は時代劇ものの映画がまた注目されている。
Recently, period-drama films are receiving attention again.
As a suffix, sometimes used to mean 'a cause of ...' or 'a source of ...' (somewhat colloquial or idiomatic).
無理な働き方は、健康を損なう原因ものになりかねない。
Working excessively can become a cause of health problems.
Used as a prefix to mean 'somewhat/for some reason' (e.g., もの寂しい = somewhat lonely).
秋の夕方は、何となくもの寂しい気分になる。
On autumn evenings I somehow feel a bit lonely.
Used as a prefix to add emphasis meaning 'really/truly' or 'strangely/curiously' (e.g., 物珍しい = truly unusual).
初めて見る機械にみんな物珍しそうに集まってきた。
Everyone gathered around the machine they were seeing for the first time, looking curious.