This lesson builds upon your knowledge of verbs in the masu form and introduces essential vocabulary for describing locations in Japanese. You'll learn to differentiate between "here," "there," and "over there" and ask about locations. Understanding these concepts is crucial for giving and receiving directions and navigating everyday situations.
| Japanese | Romaji | English | Nuance |
|---|---|---|---|
| ここ | koko | here; this place | Refers to the speaker's immediate vicinity. Often implies "where I am." |
| そこ | soko | there; that place (near the listener) | Refers to a place closer to the listener than the speaker. Important: it's relative! If you are both close, it's still used. |
| あそこ | asoko | over there; that place (far from both) | Refers to a place distant from both the speaker and the listener. "Away yonder." |
| どこ | doko | where | Used to inquire about a location. |
| こちら | kochira | this way; this place (polite version of ここ) | More polite than ここ, often used when introducing a place or directing someone. Think "This way, please." |
| そちら | sochira | that way; that place (polite version of そこ) | More polite than そこ, often used when referring to where the listener is or directing someone towards them. |
| あちら | achira | that way; that place (polite version of あそこ) | More polite than あそこ, referring to a distant location or directing someone that way. |
Important Note on Politeness: While ここ, そこ, and あそこ are perfectly acceptable in many situations, using こちら, そちら, and あちら conveys a higher level of politeness, especially when interacting with customers, superiors, or individuals you don't know well.
The key to understanding ここ, そこ, and あそこ lies in the relationship between the speaker and the listener.
Think of it as concentric circles: You (speaker) are in the center (ここ), the listener is in the next circle (そこ), and everything else is in the outer circle (あそこ).
Let's look at some more examples to solidify your understanding:
ここは私の家です。 Koko wa watashi no ie desu. This is my house. (Speaker is at their house)
そこはあなたの学校ですか？ Soko wa anata no gakkou desu ka? Is that your school? (Near the listener)
あそこには何がありますか？ Asoko ni wa nani ga arimasu ka? What is over there? (Far from both speaker and listener)
(Pointing to a map) ここに住んでいます。 (Pointing to a map) Koko ni sunde imasu. (I) live here. (Pointing to a specific place on a map)
(Talking on the phone) 今、そこにいますか？ (Talking on the phone) Ima, soko ni imasu ka? Are you there now? (Referring to the listener's location)
あそこに富士山が見えます。 Asoko ni Fuji-san ga miemasu. Mount Fuji can be seen over there. (In the distance)
（店員が）こちらへどうぞ。 (Ten'in ga) Kochira e douzo. (Shop assistant) This way, please. (Polite way to indicate direction)
（電話で）そちらの天気はいかがですか？ (Denwa de) Sochira no tenki wa ikaga desu ka? (On the phone) How's the weather over there? (Politely referring to the listener's location)
（駅員が）あちらで切符をお買い求めください。 (Ekiin ga) Achira de kippu o okaime kudasai. (Station attendant) Please purchase your ticket over there. (Politely directing to a distant location)
Now let's combine location words with verbs you learned previously. Remember the masu form!
ここで食べます。 Koko de tabemasu. I eat here.
そこで勉強しますか？ Soko de benkyou shimasu ka? Do you study there?
あそこで待ちます。 Asoko de machimasu. I will wait over there.
どこで飲みますか？ Doko de nomimasu ka? Where do you drink?
The particles に (ni) and で (de) are crucial for indicating location.
に (ni): Indicates a location of existence or a destination.
で (de): Indicates a location of an action.
Let's apply this to ここ, そこ, and あそこ:
Use the following words, along with ここ, そこ, あそこ, and どこ, to create your own sentences. Remember to use the correct particle (wa, ga, ni, de).
Imagine you are giving directions to a tourist. Use ここ, そこ, あそこ, こちら, そちら, and あちら to guide them. You can use the following scenario:
Scenario: A tourist is looking for the nearest convenience store (コンビニ - konbini).
Tourist: すみません、コンビニはどこですか？ (Sumimasen, konbini wa doko desu ka?) Excuse me, where is the convenience store?
You: あそこの角を曲がってください。 (Asoko no kado o magatte kudasai.) Please turn at that corner over there.
Tourist: はい。 (Hai.) Okay.
You: そして、そちらにまっすぐ行ってください。 (Soshira ni massugu itte kudasai.) And then, please go straight that way.
Tourist: まっすぐですね。 (Massugu desu ne.) Straight ahead, right?
You: はい、そうです。コンビニはすぐそこにあります。 (Hai, sou desu. Konbini wa sugu soko ni arimasu.) Yes, that's right. The convenience store is right there.
Tourist: ありがとうございます！ (Arigatou gozaimasu!) Thank you very much!
You are talking to a friend on the phone. You want to know if they are at the cafe you agreed to meet at. Which word would you use?
How do you ask "Where is the bathroom?" in a more polite way than using どこ? Consider who you might be asking.
Common Mistake: A learner wants to say "The cat is here" and writes "猫はここです" (Neko wa koko desu). Is this correct? Why or why not?
Imagine you have three pictures: one of your own house, one of your friend's house, and one of a distant mountain. How would you describe each location to someone using ここ, そこ, and あそこ? Explain your reasoning.