これ / それ / あれ / どれ
JLPT N5Structure
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Basic Structure
Grammar Details
Explanation
These are used to point to things — similar to this, that, that over there, and which in English.
| Japanese | Meaning | Usage | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| これ | this (thing) | Near the speaker | これは美味しい！ Kore wa oishii! → This is delicious! |
| それ | that (thing) | Near the listener | それは何ですか？ Sore wa nan desu ka? → What is that? (near you) |
| あれ | that (thing) | Far from both speaker/listener | あれは誰のかばん？ Are wa dare no kaban? → Whose bag is that over there? |
| どれ | which (thing) | Which (used to ask about a choice among options) | どれがあなたのですか？ Dore ga anata no desu ka? → Which one is yours? |
🧠 Notes:
- These are used for things, not people.
- They stand alone (i.e., not followed by a noun).
- For pointing to a noun directly, use:
→ この / その / あの / どの + noun
- For pointing to a noun directly, use:
Examples
これは私の本です。
This is my book.(Situtation: Speaker is holding a book directly in their hands)
これを食べてみてください。
Please try eating this (Speaker points to food on their own plate that the listener hasn't tried yet)
それは何ですか？
What is that thing you have there?
それは日本語の辞書ですか？
Is that a Japanese dictionary?(Pointing to a dictionary on the table near the listener)
あれは富士山です。
That over there is Mt. Fuji. (Both speaker and listener are inside, looking out a window at Mt. Fuji visible far in the distance)
あれの名前を知っていますか？
Do you know the name of that store over there?
どれが飲みたいですか？
Which one would you like to drink?
この中で、どれが田中さんの鞄ですか？
Among all these bags in the room, which one belongs to Tanaka?
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