Koko wa anzen desu
Kore wa shio desu. (This is salt.)
Kono shio wa yasui desu. (This salt is cheap.)
Here, we learn how to point things out. These things can be physical objects or topics that you are discussing. In Japanese, these markers are related to the distance from yourself and the distance from the person you are speaking with.
ko, so, a, do
Things close to you are expressed with “kore”, “kono”, “koko”…, beginning with “ko”.
Things close to your counterpart are expressed with “sore”, “sono”, “soko”…, beginning with “so”.
Things close to neither of you are expressed with “are”, “ano”, “asoko”…, beginning with “a”.
Things unknown are expressed with “dore”, “dono”, “doko”…, beginning with “do”.
| in your boundaries | in counterpart’s boundaries | away from us | unknown | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pronoun | kore | sore | are | dore |
| Place | koko | soko | asoko | doko |
| Direction | kochira, kocchi | sochira, socchi | achira, acchi | dochira, docchi |
| Adjective | kono, konna | sono, sonna | ano, anna | dono, donna |
| Adverb | kou | sou | aa | dou |
Things and topics within your boundaries are expressed with the こ-group.”
“Meanwhile, things or topics within your counterpart’s boundaries are expressed with the そ-group.”
Things and topics which are away from both individuals are expressed with the a-group.
You might use “are” to point out something distant from you.
Alternatively, you two might discuss topics or rumors about someone who is absent from the location.
Words
| Word (pronunciation) | Meaning |
|---|---|
| yubiwa | ring |
| kakkoii | handsome |
| hito | person, human |
| taipu | type, preference |
| maccho | macho |
| asokoni imasu | there it is |
| ikemen | handsome face |
| anzen | safe |
Expressions
Satou-san says:
Jasutinsan, sono yubiwa kakkoii desu ne.
Justin says:
Kono yubiwa wa kanojo ga kuremashita. (My girlfriend gave me this ring.)
Satou says:
Watashi mo yubiwa to kareshi ga hoshii desu. (I also want a ring and a boyfriend.)
Justin says:
Satousan no taipu wa donna hito desuka?
Satou says:
Macchona hito!
Justin says:
Asokoni imasu! Ano hito!
Satou says:
Dore desuka!??
Justin says:
Ano ikemen desu!
Exercise
Questions
Translate into Japanese
- This car
- What kind of dream (dream = yume)
- Here is safe.
- Where is the station? Over there. (station = eki)
- How is it going? = How is feeling? (feeling = choushi)
Answers
- kono kuruma
- donna yume
- koko wa anzen desu
- eki wa doko desuka? Asoko desu.
- choushi wa dou desuka?