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 Personal & possessive pronouns
Demonstrative & interrogative pronouns
Vocabulary Part I
Vocabulary Part II
Demonstrative and interrogative pronouns
All demonstrative pronouns and certain interrogative pronouns follow a distinctly regular pattern. These pronouns are known as the こそあど言葉 (ko-so-a-do kotoba).
Interrogative pronouns that do not belong to this group are:
| 何 |
nani / nan |
what |
| だれ |
dare |
who |
| いつ |
itsu |
when |
| いくつ |
ikutsu |
how many |
| いくら |
ikura |
how much |
| どうして |
doushite |
why |
| なぜ |
naze |
why |
Most of these pronouns will be dealt with in later lessons.
何 (nani / nan)
何 (nani / nan) means "what". When 何 is followed by a word starting with a "d", "t" or "n" it is pronounced as "nan". In all other cases it is pronounced as "nani".
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何ですか。 (Nan desu ka.)
What is it?
何となく (Nan to naku)
Somehow
何のパーティーなの? (Nan no paatii na no?)
What kind of party is it?
何をしますか。(Nani wo shimasu ka.)
What are you going to do? |
In combination with certain particles 何 (nani / nan) can adopt special meanings. You should consult a dictionary when encountering situations where translating 何 (nani / nan) with "what" results in an awkward translation.
こそあど言葉 (ko-so-a-do kotoba)
Demonstrative pronouns beginning with こ (ko) are used for topics close to the speaker (i.e. this, here, these). Demonstrative pronouns beginning with そ (so) are used for topics close to the person spoken to (i.e. that, there, those). Demonstrative pronouns beginning with あ (a) are used for topics removed from both speakers (i.e. that, over there, those).
The distinction between そ (so) and あ (a) doesn't exist in English, but is very important in Japanese. Pronouns beginning with あ (a) can also be used to indicate topics which are familiar to both speakers.
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それは何ですか。(Sore wa nan desu ka.)
What is that?
これですか。(Kore desu ka.)
This one?
あれはどこ? (Are wa doko?)
Where is that thing? |
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here
こ (ko) |
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there
そ (so) |
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over there
あ (a) |
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?
ど (do) |
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| Nouns |
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これ (kore)
this |
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それ (sore)
that |
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あれ (are)
that over there |
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どれ (dore)
which |
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| Adjectival |
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この (kono)
this ... |
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その (sono)
that ... |
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あの (ano)
that ... over there |
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どの (dono)
what / which ... |
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こんな (konna)
this kind |
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そんな (sonna)
that kind |
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あんな (anna)
that kind |
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どんな (donna)
what kind |
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| Adverbial |
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こう (kou)
this way |
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そう (sou)
that way |
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ああ (aa)
that way |
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どう (dou)
how |
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こんなに (konna ni)
this much |
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そんなに (sonna ni)
that much |
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あんなに (anna ni)
that much |
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どんなに (donna ni)
how much |
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| Location |
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ここ (koko)
here |
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そこ (soko)
there |
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あそこ (asoko)
over there |
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どこ (doko)
where |
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こちら (kochira)
this side |
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そちら (sochira)
that side |
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あちら (achira)
that side |
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どちら (dochira)
what side |
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こっち (kocchi)
this side |
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そっち (socchi)
that side |
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あっち (acchi)
that side |
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どっち (docchi)
what side |
ここ (koko), こちら (kochira), and こっち (kocchi) all mean "here". こちら (kochira) is more formal than ここ (koko), while こっち (kocchi) is an informal abbreviation of こちら (kochira). The same applies to the そ (so), あ (a), and ど (do) columns.
Additional uses for kochira, sochira, achira, and dochira
The こちら (kochira), そちら (sochira), あちら (achira), どちら (dochira) row can also be used as personal pronouns. These are polite synonyms for I, you, he/she, and who.
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こちらはジョンソンです。 (Kochira wa Jonson desu.)
My name is Johnson.
そちら様の自動車ですか。 (Sochira-sama no jidousha desu ka.)
Is that your car?
どちら様ですか。 (Dochira-sama desu ka.)
Who are you? |
This row can also be used to say "this", "that", and "which". This is also more polite than これ (kore), それ (sore), あれ (are), and どれ (dore).
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こちらは何ですか。 (Kochira wa nan desu ka.)
What is this? |
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