In Japanese, when you want to point something out or refer to an object, it’s important to choose the right word for “this” or “that.” The Japanese language uses different words based on proximity—whether the item is near you, near the listener, or far away from both of you. The three most common words for this are これ (kore), それ (sore), and あれ (are). Let’s dive into how to use these terms correctly!

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1. これ (kore) – “This”

Pronunciation: [kore]
Meaning: “This” (near the speaker)

Use これ when referring to something that is close to you, the speaker. It indicates that the object is physically near to the person talking.

Example Sentences:

• これをください – “Please give me this.”
• これは私わたしのペンです – “This is my pen.”

Notice that これ can also be used when you’re holding or pointing at something nearby.

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2. それ (sore) – “That”

Pronunciation: [sore]
Meaning: “That” (near the listener)

Use それ to refer to something that is near the listener (the person you are talking to) but not near you. It’s used to point to something that both the speaker and listener can see, but the object is closer to the listener.

Example Sentences:

• それは何なんですか？ – “What is that?”
• それを見みてください – “Please look at that.”

Tip: If you’re pointing to something that is far away from both of you, but you both can see it, you still use それ.

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3. あれ (are) – “That Over There”

Pronunciation: [are]
Meaning: “That over there” (far from both the speaker and listener)

Use あれ when referring to something that is far away from both you and the listener. It points to something that neither the speaker nor the listener is close to.

Example Sentences:

• あれは山やまです – “That over there is a mountain.”
• あれを見みてください – “Please look over there.”

You’ll often hear あれ used when talking about things that are far away from both people, like across the room or in the distance.

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Key Differences at a Glance:

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When to Use これ, それ, and あれ in Questions:

The choice between これ, それ, and あれ is essential when forming questions, as they reflect the proximity of the object in question.

• これ – Used when asking about something near you.
  • これは何なんですか？ – “What is this?”
    
• それ – Used when asking about something near the listener.
  • それは何なんですか？ – “What is that?”
    
• あれ – Used when asking about something far from both of you.
  • あれは何なんですか？ – “What is that over there?”

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Quick Recap:

• これ (kore) = This (close to you, the speaker)
• それ (sore) = That (close to the listener)
• あれ (are) = That over there (far from both the speaker and the listener)

Understanding the correct usage of これ, それ, and あれ will help you sound more natural when talking about objects in your everyday life. Whether you’re pointing to something nearby or far away, using these words appropriately will improve your Japanese communication skills. Happy learning!

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🌟Practice Exercise

Fill in the blanks with これ (kore), それ (sore), or あれ (are) based on the context.

1. ______ は私わたしの本ほんです。 (This is my book.)
2. ______ はあなたのペンですか？ (Is that your pen?)
3. ______ はとても遠とおいです。 (That over there is very far.)
4. ______ を見みてください。 (Please look at this.)
5. ______ は美うつくしい花はなです。 (That over there is a beautiful flower.)
6. ______ はおいしいケーキですね。 (This is a delicious cake, isn’t it?)

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Bonus Questions:

• Make your own sentences using これ, それ, and あれ.
• Answer these questions:
  • あれは何なんですか？
  • これを使つかいますか？

This exercise will help you practice using これ, それ, and あれ in different contexts. Check your answers and try making your own sentences for even more practice!

Let me know if you’d like to go over the answers or need more exercises!

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