kono shinkei ga itai.

subject particle

Breakdown of kono shinkei ga itai.

• この: this
• 痛いたい: painful
• 神経しんけい: a nerve

Questions & Answers about kono shinkei ga itai.

Why are there spaces in この　神経　が　痛い。? I thought Japanese normally didn’t use spaces.

You’re right: standard Japanese normally writes this as この神経が痛い。 with no spaces.

The spaces are usually added in beginner materials to make the parts easier to see:

• この = this
• 神経 = nerve
• が = subject-marking particle
• 痛い = painful / hurts

So the spaces are a teaching aid, not normal orthography.

Why is it この and not これ?

この is used when you put this directly before a noun.

• この神経 = this nerve

By contrast, これ stands alone:

• これ = this

So you can say:

• この神経が痛い。 = This nerve hurts.
• これは痛い。 = This hurts.

But これ神経 is not correct.

Why is there no の between この and 神経?