Lesson 9 · about 5 minutes
This X, that X, which X
kono · sono · ano · dono
この・その・あの・どの
You'll learn how to say "this ___," "that ___," and "which ___."
The words
| Romaji | Japanese | Reading | Meaning | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| kono | この + noun | この | this ___ (near me) | |
| sono | その + noun | その | that ___ (near you) | |
| ano | あの + noun | あの | that ___ over there (far from both of us) | |
| dono | どの + noun | どの | which ___? (when there are options) |
How they differ
In a story, distance is from the speaker's point of view, not from you as the reader.
These words always need a noun right after them. You can't say この alone — say この ほん (kono hon) "this book," その みせ (sono mise) "that shop," あの ひと (ano hito) "that person over there."
どの (dono) also needs a noun and options: 「どの いろ が いい ですか?」(dono iro ga ii desu ka?) "Which color is good?"
Same distance map as before:
こ (ko) = near me
そ (so) = near you
あ (a) = away from both
ど (do) = which
これ (kore) stands alone for "this thing." この (kono) needs a noun: "this ___." Same for それ→その, あれ→あの, どれ→どの.
One line: standalone = れ / with a noun = の.
Next: The little ending です / ですか / じゃないです (desu / desu ka / ja nai desu) — "is," "is it?," and "isn't."
See it in a sentence
kono hon o kudasai
この ほん を ください。
This book, please. (polite)
sono mise wa doko desu ka?
その みせは どこ ですか?
Where is that shop? (polite)
ano hito desu
あの ひと です。
It's that person over there. (polite)
dono menyuu ga ii desu ka?
どの メニュー が いい ですか?
Which menu is good? (polite)
kono mizu o nomimasu
この みず を のみます。
I'll drink this water. (polite)
Watch out
これ (kore) = this (standalone) / この (kono) + noun = this ___ それ (sore) = that (standalone) / その (sono) + noun = that ___ どれ (dore) = which one? / どの (dono) + noun = which ___?
Try it
In your next story, find この (kono), その (sono), or あの (ano) once. Name the noun that follows it out loud.
Check against the lesson cluster and say it out loud.