Kochira kara renraku shimasu
You have learned how to point out objects using ‘KO…,’ ‘SO…,’ ‘A…,’ and ‘DO…’ to indicate location and distance.
Now, let’s move on to a new topic: ‘Uchi’ and ‘Soto’, which mean ‘inside’ and ‘outside,’ respectively. These terms are used to describe whether something is within or outside a specific boundary or space. For example, ‘Uchi’ can refer to something being inside a building, a group, or a personal sphere, while ‘Soto’ is used to indicate something being outside of it.
Understanding these concepts will help you describe spatial relationships more clearly and will also help you to express honorific expressions in Japanese.
Ko, So, A, Do
| “Ko…”（my territory, our group） | “So…”（counterpart’s territory） | “A…”（outside of “Ko” and “So”） | “Do…”（not sure） |
|---|---|---|---|
| kore | sore | are | dore |
| kono | sono | ano | dono |
| koko | soko | asoko | doko |
| kou | sou | aa | dou |
“Uchi” and “Soto”
“Uchi” represents the concept of one’s personal territory or the territory of the group to which the speaker belongs. This can include family, close friends, or coworkers in the same company. The idea of “Uchi” is sometimes emphasized using “Ko…” words (such as kore, koko) to explicitly indicate the speaker’s territory.
On the other hand, “Soto” refers to anything outside the boundary of “Uchi.” This outside territory is often expressed with “So…” (like sore, soko) or “A…” (like are, asoko) to signify greater distance or separation.
This distinction between “Uchi” and “Soto” also plays a significant role in the use of honorific language. To engage in polite conversation, you must establish a clear line between yourself (Uchi) and others (Soto). When interacting with people within your “Uchi,” casual or familiar language, such as short forms, can be used. However, when speaking to those outside your “Uchi,” such as superiors or strangers, it is necessary to use long forms at the end of sentences to show respect and politeness.
In summary, the concept of “Uchi” and “Soto” not only defines spatial relationships but also influences how you choose honorific forms and sentence structures in Japanese.
Expression
Asu, kochira kara renraku shimasu. (Tomorrow, I will make contact. >>> from uchi make contact)
Kinou, sochira kara denwa ga arimashita. (Yesterday, you made contact. >>> from yourside, there was a contact)