The Japanese demonstratives

In Japanese, demonstratives (words like “this” and “that”) follow a highly systematic pattern known as the Ko-So-A-Do system. When referring to physical objects or things, we use the series これ, それ, あれ, and どれ. Which one you choose depends entirely on the physical distance between the speaker and the listener.

これ (This)

これ refers to an object that is physically close to the speaker (within their personal space or reach).

これは何なんですか。

What is this? (Holding or pointing to an item close by)

これをお願ねがいします。

I will have this, please. (Pointing at a menu)

それ (That)

それ refers to an object that is closer to the listener than the speaker, or just slightly out of the speaker’s immediate reach.

それを取とってください。

Please pass me that (the thing near you).

それは私わたしの傘かさです。

That is my umbrella.

あれ (That over there)

あれ refers to an object that is physically distant from both the speaker and the listener.

あれは新幹線しんかんせんですか。

Is that a bullet train over there?

あそこに見みえるのは富士山ふじさんです。あれは日本にほんで一番いちばん高たかい山やまです。

What you can see over there is Mt. Fuji. That is the tallest mountain in Japan.

どれ (Which one?)

どれ is the question word used when asking someone to choose from three or more options. (Note: If there are only two options, どっち must be used instead).

あなたの車くるまはどれですか。

Which one is your car?

Crucial JLPT Nuance: Conversational Distance

While the physical rules above are straightforward, exams like the JLPT heavily test how それ and あれ are used in abstract conversation—when talking about memories, ideas, or topics where the object isn’t physically present.

• あれ (Shared Information): Used when both the speaker and the listener already know about the topic. It evokes a sense of shared memory.
• それ (Unshared Information): Used when only one person knows about the topic (usually the person who just brought it up).

先週せんしゅう行いったレストランだけど、あれはどこにあるの？

That restaurant we went to last week, where is it? (Both people went there, so it is shared knowledge = あれ)

A: 明日あした、難むずかしいテストがあるんです。 B: それは大変たいへんですね。

A: I have a difficult test tomorrow. B: That is tough. (Person B did not know about the test until Person A mentioned it, so it is unshared knowledge = それ)