These are demonstrative pronouns used to point to things. They stand alone and are not followed by a noun.
| Japanese | English | Meaning | Context |
|---|---|---|---|
| これ | kore | This (thing) | Near the speaker |
| それ | sore | That (thing) | Near the listener |
| あれ | are | That (thing) | Far from both speaker and listener |
| どれ | dore | Which (thing)? | Used when asking to choose between options |
Use these without a noun after them. Avoid using あれ when the object is already known to the listener; it may sound vague.
これは ぺん です。
Kore wa pen desu.
This is a pen.
それは わたしのかさ です。
Sore wa watashi no kasa desu.
That is my umbrella.
あれは がっこう です。
Are wa gakkou desu.
That over there is a school.
どれが あなたのほん ですか？
Dore ga anata no hon desu ka?
Which one is your book?
These are demonstrative adjectives used directly before nouns to specify which object you're talking about.
| Japanese | English | Meaning | Context |
|---|---|---|---|
| この | kono | This _ | Near the speaker |
| その | sono | That _ | Near the listener |
| あの | ano | That _ over there | Far from both speaker and listener |
| どの | dono | Which _? | Used in questions with a noun |
Must be followed by a noun. Don't confuse kono and kore — この modifies a noun, これ replaces a noun.
この ほん は おもしろい です。
Kono hon wa omoshiroi desu.
This book is interesting.
その とけい は たかい です。
Sono tokei wa takai desu.
That watch is expensive.
あの ひと は せんせい です。
Ano hito wa sensei desu.
That person over there is a teacher.
どの かばん が あなたの ですか？
Dono kaban ga anata no desu ka?
Which bag is yours?
These are demonstrative location words used to indicate places. They stand alone and do not modify nouns.
| Japanese | English | Meaning | Context |
|---|---|---|---|
| ここ | koko | Here | Near the speaker |
| そこ | soko | There | Near the listener |
| あそこ | asoko | Over there | Far from both speaker and listener |
| どこ | doko | Where? | Used to ask about location |
These are not followed by a noun. To sound more polite, use こちら / そちら / あちら / どちら, especially in formal situations or customer service.
ここ は わたしの へや です。
Koko wa watashi no heya desu.
Here is my room.
そこ に いぬ が います。
Soko ni inu ga imasu.
There is a dog there.
あそこ に こうえん が あります。
Asoko ni kouen ga arimasu.
There's a park over there.
トイレ は どこ ですか？
Toire wa doko desu ka?
Where is the bathroom?
These are the polite equivalents of the previous pointing words.
| Japanese | English | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| こちら | kochira | Here / This way / This person |
| そちら | sochira | There / That way / That person |
| あちら | achira | Over there / That way / That person |
| どちら | dochira | Where / Which way / Who / Which one |
When with a noun, add の before the noun.
When asking for directions, better use どちら instead of どこ - that way you don't assume the person knows the answer.
こちら は わたしの ともだち です。
Kochira wa watashi no tomodachi desu.
This is my friend. (polite)
こちらの ペン を おつかいください。
Kochira no pen o otsukai kudasai.
Please use this pen.
そちら は いかが ですか？
Sochira wa ikaga desu ka?
How about that (your side)? (polite)
あちら に ロビー が ございます。
Achira ni robii ga gozaimasu.
There is a lobby over there. (polite)
おてあらい は どちら ですか？
Otearai wa dochira desu ka?
Where is the restroom? (polite)
These words are used to describe or refer to things, people, or situations that were just mentioned or are understood from context.
| Japanese | English | Usage |
|---|---|---|
| こういう | like this / this kind of | Something I’m explaining, demonstrating, or experiencing now |
| そういう | like that / that kind of | Something you know, said, did, or just mentioned |
| ああいう | like that / that kind of (over there) | something both of us know, but not directly involved with right now |
| どういう | what kind of / what sort of | asking for explanation or clarification |
They function like adjectives and are followed by a noun.
ういう ほん は おもしろい。
Kou iu hon wa omoshiroi.
Books like this are interesting.
そういう ひと は しんよう できない。
Sou iu hito wa shinyou dekinai.
I can’t trust people like that.
ああいう こと は やめて ください。
Aa iu koto wa yamete kudasai.
Please stop doing things like that.
どういう いみ です か？
Dou iu imi desu ka?
What kind of meaning is that?