Basic Lessons
Asking Directions (3)
Dialogue
Click here for the dialogue for "Asking Directions."
Ko-so-a-do System
Japanese has sets of words which are based on the physical distance from the speaker and the listener. They are called "ko-so-a-do words" because the first syllable is always either ko-, so-, a-, or do-. "Ko-words" refer to things nearer to the speaker, "So-words" to things nearer to the listener, "A-words" to things that are at distance from both the speaker and the listener, and "Do-words" are questions words.
(1) kono/sono/ano/dono + [Noun]
They cannot be used on their own. They have to be followed by the noun that they modify.
| kono hon この本 |
this book |
| sono hon その本 |
that book |
| ano hon あの本 |
that book over there |
| dono hon どの本 |
which book |
(2) kore/sore/are/dore
They cannot be followed by a noun. They can be replaced with kono/sono/ano/dono + [Noun] when the things indicated are obvious.
| Kono hon o yomimashita. この本を読みました。 |
I read this book. |
| Kore o yomimashita. これを読みました。 |
I read this. |
(3) Ko-so-a-do Chart
| ko- | so- | a- | do- | |
| thing | kono [N] この |
sono [N] その |
ano [N] あの |
dono [N] どの |
| kore これ |
sore それ |
are あれ |
dore どれ |
|
| place | koko ここ |
soko そこ |
asoko あそこ |
doko どこ |
| direction | kochira こちら |
sochira そちら |
achira あちら |
dochira どちら |
The "kochira" group can be used as the polite equivalent of the "kore" or "koko" group. These expressions are often used by employees in the service industries.
| Kore wa ikaga desu ka. これはいかがですか。 |
How about this one? |
|
Kochira wa ikaga desu ka. こちらはいかがですか。 |
How about this one? (more polite) |
| Asoko de omachi kudasai. あそこでお待ちください。 |
Please wait over there. |
|
Achira de omachi kudasai. あちらでお待ちください。 |
Please wait over there. (more polite) |
