N5Lesson 20 of 435 min
これ, それ, あれ: this and that
Japanese splits "that" into two: near you, and near neither of us.
Where English gives you this and that, Japanese splits it three ways by distance from each speaker. Once you spot the こ / そ / あ / ど shape, the whole pattern is regular.
| Thing | Modifier | Place | Meaning | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| こ: near me | これ | この | ここ | this / here |
| そ: near you | それ | その | そこ | that / there |
| あ: away from both | あれ | あの | あそこ | that over there |
| ど: question | どれ | どの | どこ | which / where |
- これは何ですか これはなんですかकोरे वा नान देस काWhat is this?
- その本をください そのほんをくださいसोनो होन ओ कुदासाइThat book, please
- トイレはどこですか तोइरे वा दोको देस काWhere is the toilet?