🧠 Lesson 9: こそあど Words — Pointing with Purpose

 In Japanese, there’s a special group of words called こそあど—used to point, refer, and ask about things based on location and context. They’re short, versatile, and essential for everyday conversation.

This lesson introduces all four forms:

• Noun form (これ, それ, あれ, どれ)

• Adjective form (この, その, あの, どの)

• Place form (ここ, そこ, あそこ, どこ)

• Direction form (こちら, そちら, あちら, どちら)

🌸 Noun Form — “This / That / Which (thing)”

Japanese	Romaji	Meaning
これ	kore	this (near speaker)
それ	sore	that (near listener)
あれ	are	that (far from both)
どれ	dore	which one?

Example: 

これは ごはん です。(This is rice.) 

それは くるま です。(That is a car.)

🌼 Adjective Form — “This / That / Which [noun]”

Japanese	Romaji	Meaning
この	kono	this [noun]
その	sono	that [noun]
あの	ano	that [noun] (far)
どの	dono	which [noun]?

Example: 

この ほん は おもしろい です。(This book is interesting.) 

どの せんせい が すき ですか？(Which teacher do you like?)

🏠 Place Form — “Here / There / Where”

Japanese	Romaji	Meaning
ここ	koko	here
そこ	soko	there (near listener)
あそこ	asoko	over there
どこ	doko	where?

Example: 

がっこう は どこ ですか？(Where is the school?) 

ここ は としょかん です。(Here is the library.)

🧭 Direction/Formal Form — “This Way / That Way / Which Way”

Japanese	Romaji	Meaning
こちら	kochira	this way / this person (polite)
そちら	sochira	that way / that person (polite)
あちら	achira	that way over there (polite)
どちら	dochira	which way / who (polite)?

Example: 

こちら は わたし の ともだち です。(This is my friend.) 

どちら へ いきますか？(Which way are you going?)

🪞 Jiezza’s Reminder

You don’t need to name everything to talk about it. Sometimes, you just point. “This one.” “That place.” “Which way?”

こそあど words help you speak with presence. They’re the language of noticing—of being aware of where you are, and who you’re with.

Start with what’s near. Then reach for what’s far. And always ask with curiosity.