Originally posted by HelpfulDuo https://forum.duolingo.com/comment/25358449
これ and この
English this and that can be expressed in Japanese as これ, あれ. These are used as pronouns.
e.g. これは わたしの ペンです。(This is my pen.)
これ それ あれ どれ
Kore sore are dore
There are other set of words called demonstratives, which works as adjectives modify nouns.
e.g. あの りんご(that apple)、どのドア (which door)
この その あの どの
kono sono ano dono + [Noun]
Here are the difference in relative distance among the speaker and the listener using kosoado.
こ ko-series: Close to the person speaking
そ so-series: Close to the person listening
あ a-series: Far from both
ど do-series: Unknown
Kosoado chart
| - | こ | そ | あ | ど |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pronoun | これ this thing | それ that thing | あれ that thing | どれc which thing |
| Adjective | この this ~ | その that ~ | あの that ~ | どの which ~ |
| Location | ここ here | そこ there | あそこ over there | どこ where |
| Direction | こちら⁺ this way | そちら that way | あちら that way | どちら which way |
| Manner | こう this way | そう that way | ああ that way | どう in what way |
⁺ こちら can be used for polite way of saying "this person"
こっち そっち あっち どっち are more casual conversational expressions for the direction (こちら そちら あちら どちら).
Examples for Location, Direction and Manner:
・ここに おいて ください。
(kokoni oite kudasai. = Please put it right here.)
・トイレ は **あちら **です。
(toire wa achira desu. = The bathroom is over there.)
・おかいけい ですか。
(okaikei desuka? = Should I bring you a check?)
はい、そうして ください。
(hai, sousite kudasai. = Yes, please.)