物

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: 物 is a noun read もの, broadly referring to a thing or a physical object.
• Basic usage: Use 重い物を置く for an object being placed and 持って行く物 for things to take somewhere.
  • 机の上に重い物を置かないでください。 asks people not to place heavy objects on the desk; 旅行に持って行く物を一覧にしました。 describes making a list of things to take on a trip.

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• 物を置く
  • を marks the physical object placed on the desk.
• 持って行く物
  • The preceding verb phrase modifies the noun and identifies which things are meant.
• 一覧にする
  • に marks a list as the resulting form into which the items are organized.