これ・それ・あれ・どれ: this, that, that over there, which
One system of four prefixes for pointing at things, places and ways.要点The idea
Pointing words come in sets of four: こ = near me, そ = near you, あ = over there (away from both of us), ど = which?| こ · near me | そ · near you | あ · over there | ど · question | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| thing | これkore | それsore | あれare | どれdore |
| + noun | この 本ほんkono hon | その 本ほんsono hon | あの 本ほんano hon | どの 本ほんdono hon |
| place | ここkoko | そこsoko | あそこasoko | どこdoko |
| way | こうkou | そうsou | ああaa | どうdou |
Aこれ は 何なん です か？kore wa nan desu ka?What's this?Something in your own hand.
Bそれ は 何なん です か？sore wa nan desu ka?What's that?Something the listener is holding.
この パン は おいしい。kono pan wa oishii.This bread is tasty.この, その, あの and どの always need a noun after them.
トイレ は どこ です か？toire wa doko desu ka?Where's the toilet?
そう です ね。sou desu ne.That's right. / Let me think…
- Aすみません、 それ は いくら です か？sumimasen, sore wa ikura desu ka?Excuse me, how much is that?
- Bこれ です か？ 三千円さんぜんえん です。kore desu ka? sanzen'en desu.This one? It's 3,000 yen.
- Aじゃあ、 あれ は？jaa, are wa?And that one over there?
- Bあれ は 五千円ごせんえん です。are wa gosen'en desu.That one's 5,000 yen.