N5 · 40 words

This, that and question words in Japanese

Pointing at things, places and directions, and asking who, what, where, when, why and how much.

Practise this list

From these 40 words, as many per round as you like — up to all of them: first what is due today, then new ones. First you choose, then you fill the gap, then you write it yourself. Mistakes come back again shortly.

More about this list

English has "this" and "that"; Japanese has three distances and a question, and the same four beginnings run through a whole family of words. こ is near the speaker, そ near the listener, あ far from both, and ど asks which: これ, それ, あれ, どれ for things, ここ, そこ, あそこ, どこ for places. Learn one row and you have learnt the pattern of all of them. Question words stay where the answer would stand, so the word order does not change — the sentence simply ends in か.

The words

Adverb (2)

そうso; like thatAdverbN5

私(わたし)もそう思(おも)います。I think so too.

こうlike this; in this wayAdverbN5

この漢字(かんじ)はこう書(か)きます。This kanji is written like this.

Pronoun (15)

これthis (one, near me)PronounN5

これは私(わたし)の辞書(じしょ)です。This is my dictionary.

それthat (one, near you)PronounN5

それは何(なん)ですか。What is that?

あれthat (one, over there)PronounN5

あれは東京(とうきょう)タワーです。That over there is Tokyo Tower.

このthis (before a noun)PronounN5

この本(ほん)はとてもおもしろいです。This book is very interesting.

Must be followed by a noun: この本(ほん), but これ on its own.

そのthat (before a noun, near you)PronounN5

その傘(かさ)は私(わたし)のです。That umbrella is mine.

あのthat (before a noun, over there)PronounN5

あの店(みせ)のラーメンはおいしいです。The ramen at that shop over there is good.

Also refers to something both speakers know about.

ここherePronounN5

ここは私(わたし)の部屋(へや)です。This is my room.

そこthere (near you)PronounN5

そこに座(すわ)ってください。Please sit there.

あそこover therePronounN5

あそこにコンビニがあります。There's a convenience store over there.

Note the extra そ: not あこ.

こちらthis way; this person (polite)PronounN5

こちらは山田(やまだ)さんです。This is Yamada-san.

The polite form of ここ and これ; used to introduce people.

そちらthat way; your side (polite)PronounN5

そちらの天気(てんき)はどうですか。What's the weather like where you are?

あちらover there; that way (polite)PronounN5

お手洗(てあら)いはあちらです。The toilets are over there.

こんなthis kind of; like thisPronounN5

こんな料理(りょうり)は初(はじ)めて食(た)べました。It's the first time I've eaten food like this.

そんなthat kind of; like thatPronounN5

そんなことはありません。That's not true at all.

Often a modest reply to praise.

あんなthat kind of (over there)PronounN5

あんな大(おお)きい家(いえ)に住(す)みたいです。I'd like to live in a big house like that.

Question word (22)

どれwhich (one, of three or more)Question wordN5

田中(たなか)さんのかばんはどれですか。Which one is Tanaka-san's bag?

どのwhich (before a noun)Question wordN5

どの電車(でんしゃ)に乗(の)りますか。Which train do we take?

どこwhereQuestion wordN5

トイレはどこですか。Where is the toilet?

どちらwhich (of two); where (polite)Question wordN5

コーヒーと紅茶(こうちゃ)、どちらがいいですか。Coffee or tea — which would you like?

どんなwhat kind ofQuestion wordN5

どんな音楽(おんがく)が好(す)きですか。What kind of music do you like?

何(なに)whatQuestion wordN5

朝(あさ)ご飯(はん)に何(なに)を食(た)べましたか。What did you have for breakfast?

Read なん before です, before counters and usually before a t-, d- or n-sound: 何(なん)ですか, 何時(なんじ).

誰(だれ)whoQuestion wordN5

これは誰(だれ)のペンですか。Whose pen is this?

Also often written in kana: だれ.

どなたwho (polite)Question wordN5

失礼(しつれい)ですが、どなたですか。Excuse me, may I ask who you are?

いつwhenQuestion wordN5

夏休(なつやす)みはいつからですか。When do the summer holidays start?

どうしてwhyQuestion wordN5

どうして日本語(にほんご)を勉強(べんきょう)しているんですか。Why are you studying Japanese?

The usual spoken "why"; the answer often ends in から.

なぜwhy (more formal)Question wordN5

なぜ遅(おく)れたのですか。Why were you late?

More formal than どうして, and common in writing.

いくらhow much (money)Question wordN5

このかばんはいくらですか。How much is this bag?

いくつhow many; how oldQuestion wordN5

りんごはいくつありますか。How many apples are there?

おいくつhow old (polite)Question wordN5

お子(こ)さんはおいくつですか。How old is your child?

どうhow; what aboutQuestion wordN5

新(あたら)しい仕事(しごと)はどうですか。How is the new job?

どうやってhow; by what meansQuestion wordN5

駅(えき)までどうやって行(い)きますか。How do I get to the station?

どのくらいhow long; how much; how farQuestion wordN5

東京(とうきょう)から大阪(おおさか)までどのくらいかかりますか。How long does it take from Tokyo to Osaka?

Also どのぐらい.

何時(なんじ)what timeQuestion wordN5

今(いま)、何時(なんじ)ですか。What time is it now?

何人(なんにん)how many peopleQuestion wordN5

クラスに学生(がくせい)が何人(なんにん)いますか。How many students are there in the class?

何曜日(なんようび)what day of the weekQuestion wordN5

日本語(にほんご)の授業(じゅぎょう)は何曜日(なんようび)ですか。What day is the Japanese class?

どういうwhat kind of; what (meaning)Question wordN4

これはどういう意味(いみ)ですか。What does this mean?

どっちwhich (of two, casual)Question wordN5

赤(あか)と青(あお)、どっちが好(す)き？Red or blue — which do you like?

The casual form of どちら.

Particle (1)

かquestion particleParticleN5

これはあなたの本(ほん)ですか。Is this your book?

Turns a statement into a question; in polite speech it is usually followed by 。, not a question mark.

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