これ、それ、あれ、どれ: This and That in Japanese

If you’re learning Japanese, you’ve likely encountered the demonstrative pronouns これ、それ、あれ、どれ. They’re essential for everyday conversations and help you refer to objects based on their location relative to the speaker and listener. Let’s dive into their meanings, how to use them, and examples to make it all clear!

1. これ (kore) – “This”

Use これ when referring to something close to the speaker. It doesn’t need a noun afterward.

Examples:

これはペンです。 (Kore wa pen desu.)
This is a pen.
これは何なんですか？ (Kore wa nan desu ka?)
What is this?

2. それ (sore) – “That”

Use それ to refer to something close to the listener. It stands alone without a noun.

Examples:

それはりんごです。 (Sore wa ringo desu.)
That is an apple.
それはいくらですか？ (Sore wa ikura desu ka?)
How much is that?

3. あれ (are) – “That over there”

Use あれ to refer to something far from both the speaker and listener.

Examples:

あれは山やまです。 (Are wa yama desu.)
That over there is a mountain.
あれは何なんですか？ (Are wa nan desu ka?)
What is that over there?

4. どれ (dore) – “Which”

Use どれ when asking about an unknown item from a group. It’s commonly used in questions.

Examples:

どれがあなたの本ほんですか？ (Dore ga anata no hon desu ka?)
Which one is your book?
どれを食たべますか？ (Dore o tabemasu ka?)
Which one will you eat?

Chart 1: これ、それ、あれ、どれ

Word	Meaning	Used For	Example Sentence
これ	This (near the speaker)	Referring to something near the speaker	これはペンです。 (Kore wa pen desu.) → This is a pen.
それ	That (near the listener)	Referring to something near the listener	それはりんごです。 (Sore wa ringo desu.) → That is an apple.
あれ	That over there (far from both)	Referring to something far from both	あれは山やまです。 (Are wa yama desu.) → That over there is a mountain.
どれ	Which (unknown item)	Asking about an item from a group	どれがあなたの本ほんですか？ (Dore ga anata no hon desu ka?) → Which one is your book?

Extending the Usage: この、その、あの、どの

What if you want to describe a specific noun? Use these forms:
これ、それ、あれ、どれ will become この、その、あの、どの respectively

Example Sentences with この、その、あの、どの

この (kono) – “This [noun]”

この本ほんはおもしろいです。(Kono hon wa omoshiroi desu.)
This book is interesting.

その (sono) – “That [noun]”

その人ひとはだれですか？(Sono hito wa dare desu ka?)
Who is that person?

あの (ano) – “That [noun] over there”

あの犬いぬはかわいいですね。(Ano inu wa kawaii desu ne.)
That dog over there is cute, isn’t it?

どの (dono) – “Which [noun]”

どの道みちを行いけばいいですか？(Dono michi o ikeba ii desu ka?)
Which road should I take?

Chart 1: これ、それ、あれ、どれ

Word	Meaning	Used For	Example Sentence
この	This [noun] (near the speaker)	Referring to a specific noun near the speaker	この本ほんはおもしろいです。 (Kono hon wa omoshiroi desu.) → This book is interesting.
その	That [noun] (near the listener)	Referring to a specific noun near the listener	そのカバンは高たかいです。 (Sono kaban wa takai desu.) → That bag is expensive.
あの	That [noun] over there (far from both)	Referring to a specific noun far from both	あの建物たてものは学校がっこうです。 (Ano tatemono wa gakkou desu.) → That building over there is a school.
どの	Which [noun]	Asking about a specific noun from a group	どのペンがあなたのですか？ (Dono pen ga anata no desu ka?) → Which pen is yours?

Key Points to Remember

これ、それ、あれ、どれ are standalone pronouns (not followed by a noun).
この、その、あの、どの must always modify a noun.

By mastering these simple but essential words, you’ll be able to describe objects and ask questions with confidence in Japanese. Practice them in your conversations and start noticing them in real-life situations!

Have questions? Leave a comment or share your favorite example sentences!

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