Can you use Japanese demonstrative pronouns?
I’ll explain these Japanese demonstrative pronouns, which are used to indicate location and distance relative to the speaker and listener.
これ (kore) – “this one”
- Used for objects close to the speaker
- Example: これはペンです (Kore wa pen desu) – “This is a pen” (when holding or pointing to a pen near you)
それ (sore) – “that one”
- Used for objects close to the listener/person you’re talking to
- Also used for objects that are a moderate distance from both people
- Example: それは何ですか (Sore wa nan desu ka) – “What is that?” (pointing to something near the listener)
あれ (are) – “that one over there”
- Used for objects far from both the speaker and listener
- Example: あれは富士山です (Are wa Fujisan desu) – “That over there is Mt. Fuji” (pointing to the mountain in the distance)
どれ (dore) – “which one”
- Used to ask which item among several options
- Example: どれが好きですか (Dore ga suki desu ka) – “Which one do you like?”
There’s also a related set of adjective forms:
- この (kono) – “this” (これ as an adjective)
- その (sono) – “that” (それ as an adjective)
- あの (ano) – “that” (あれ as an adjective)
- どの (dono) – “which” (どれ as an adjective)
Examples
In a shop:
- Customer pointing to an item they’re holding: これはいくらですか？(Kore wa ikura desu ka?) – “How much is this?”
- Shopkeeper pointing to item near customer: そのシャツは3000円です (Sono shatsu wa sanzen-en desu) – “That shirt is 3000 yen”
- Customer pointing to display far away: あの赤いバッグを見せてください (Ano akai baggu wo misete kudasai) – “Please show me that red bag over there”
At home:
- Showing your phone: これは新しい携帯です (Kore wa atarashii keitai desu) – “This is my new phone”
- Pointing to your friend’s book: それは面白い本ですか？(Sore wa omoshiroi hon desu ka?) – “Is that an interesting book?”
- Looking out window: あれは私の車です (Are wa watashi no kuruma desu) – “That over there is my car”
In a restaurant:
- Looking at menu: どれにしましょうか (Dore ni shimashou ka?) – “Which one should we get?”
- Pointing to your dish: これは本当に美味しいです (Kore wa hontou ni oishii desu) – “This is really delicious”
- Pointing to friend’s plate: それは何という料理ですか (Sore wa nani to iu ryouri desu ka?) – “What is that dish called?”
A helpful way to remember the system:
- これ/この → Close to me
- それ/その → Close to you
- あれ/あの → Away from both of us
- どれ/どの → Which one?
