The particle の is an essential particle. Although much can be said about it, this lesson will solely be about its most important usage, which is its role as an attribute marker. We attribute details to everything, and in Japanese, this particle is what makes these attribute phrases possible.
の's primary role is to indicate that Noun 1 is an attribute of Noun 2, but Noun 2 will always be the main noun of the phrase. Treating の as the Japanese equivalent of "of" may be tempting, but know that both "of" and の have usages the other does not.
Examples
Notice how in all the examples below, の helps qualify the noun that follows.
1. 高台の建物
A building on high ground
2. 氷の上を滑る。
To slide on top of ice.
3. ニューヨークの冬はとても寒いですね。
New York winters are really cold, isn't it?
4. ハワイの海岸はきれいです。
The Hawaiian coast is pretty.
5. 季節の移り変わりは面白い。
The changing of the seasons is interesting.
6. 指（の）先を火傷する。
To burn the tip of one's fingers.
7. 吹雪の中を捜索する。
To search through the blizzard.
8. 大型（の）クラゲが出現した。
A big jelly fish appeared.
9.私宛のメッセージはありますか。
Are there any messages for me?
Definition Note: 宛(て) is "for" as in directed to.
10. 私はクラスの委員を務めました。
I served on the class committee.
11. 世界（の）平和をもたらす。
To achieve world peace.
Particle Note: At times の is dropped. This is common in long chains of Sino-Japanese words. Particles are dropped when the grammatical relation the particle marks is obvious in context. In this context, の's role is obvious. So, it may be dropped. Japanese has a lot of compound nouns, so those would be examples of の not being needed. When it doubt, use の. It's not a guarantee what you'll say is 100% natural, but it will guarantee that you're being grammatically correct.
12. その赤ちゃんの顔は日焼けしている。
The baby's face is sunburned.
13. （私は）彼の時計の時刻を直しました。
I fixed the time on his watch.
Word Note: 時刻 is used rather than 時間, which only refers to a period of time. Also note that 時計 is read as とけい.
14. 秘書の上司 VS 上司の秘書
The secretary's boss VS The boss's secretary.
Phrase Note: The difference between these phrases is simply the relationship you're trying to show. Switch the nouns and you'll switch the roles. The particle の doesn't change at all.
の can also follow other case particles--never が nor に. It can also be after some adverbs. When this happens, it is best to treat the adverb as a nominal phrase.
15. 神への道
Road to God/the gods
16. 母からの手紙
A letter from my mother
17.しばらくの間
For a while
Practice (1): Translate the following. You may use a dictionary.
1. To fix part of a computer.
2. She is the secretary of the company president.
3. A person with pretty eyes.
4. Takamura the bank employee.
5. This is a Japanese textbook.
6. Hokkaido in the winter.
7. I have three children.
8. Her house is beautiful.
We can describe の in the following situations. Remember that these are just different situations of の qualifying a noun to describe what its attributes are. The grammar is the same.
Conflicts with Other Means of Making Attribute Expressions
Adjectives also make attributes. There are also words like 特別 for which な or の are used to create attributes. One form may be more common than the other, but there may also be semantic differences.
ばかな人 VS ばかの人
The first is "stupid person", but the second sounds like "the person of an idiot", which isn't something you'd necessarily say.
Verbs can be used as attributes as well. So, we get some variation in phrases such as in どしゃ降りの雨 and どしゃ降る雨 being acceptable for "pouring rain," though the first is more proper. In similar expressions, both may be fine or be narrowed in usage.
18. 平等の権利を与える。
To give equal rights.
19. 平等な｛扱い・世界・社会・問題・ルール｝
Fair {treatment/world/society/problem/rule}
20. 殴る蹴るの暴力を受ける。
To receive violence of punches and kicks.
Part of Speech Note: There are rare expressions with の after verbs to make an attribute phrase. Treat these instances as separate words. You don't have to bother yourself with this example, but it is grammatically intriguing.
A＋の＋れんたいけい＋の
In this pattern it moreover limits something in noting a condition about what is expressed by the noun. It's like に
コーヒーの
Cold in regards to coffee
コーヒーに
It's cold in relation to coffee.
オレンジの
A comparatively small orange
Note: The word 小振り is normally only used in reference to things like fruits, fish, etc. However, its usage may be expanded some in speaking. Nevertheless, something like 小振りなテレビ is very weird. You should use