JLPT N5System

Furigana

これ・それ・あれ・どれThis, that, that over there, which

これ・それ・あれ point to a particular thing or matter according to its relationship to the speaker and listener. どれ asks which item is meant within a known set.

Choosing by physical distance

In a face-to-face situation, choose according to whose side the item is on. The basic pattern is near the speaker, near the listener, away from both, or an unknown choice.

The four-way system

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Form	Basic use
これ	This one; near the speaker
それ	That one; near the listener
あれ	That one over there; away from both
どれ	Which one; asks for a choice from a known set

When the speaker and listener are standing in the same area, the middle form can also point to something at a moderate distance from them.

Pointing to visible things

これは私わたしのノートです。

This is my notebook.

それは何なんですか。

What is that?

This is natural when the item is with or near the listener.

あれは兄あにの自じ転てん車しゃです。

That bicycle over there is my older brother's.

赤あかい傘かさと青あおい傘かさがあります。どれがあなたのですか。

There is a red umbrella and a blue umbrella. Which one is yours?

Referring to ideas and memories

それ often refers to information that the other person has just supplied or to something already mentioned. あれ can recall an event or experience that both people remember. These uses are based on how the information is shared, not on physical distance.

Responding to new information

A

新あたらしい図と書しょ館かんは来らい月げつ開ひらきます。

The new library will open next month.

B

それは楽たのしみですね。

That's something to look forward to.

The second speaker is responding to the news as a whole.

Recalling a shared experience

子こどものころ、川かわでよく遊あそんだね。あれは楽たのしかった。

We often played in the river when we were children, didn't we? That was fun.

Both speakers are understood to remember the experience.

Standing alone or modifying a noun

The forms on this page stand as noun-like expressions. Do not put them directly before a noun. When the noun itself follows, use the corresponding noun-modifying series instead.

これは新あたらしいです。この本ほんは安やすいです。

This one is new. This book is inexpensive.

これ stands alone, while この must be followed by a noun.

More examples

これを二ふたつください。

Two of these, please.

私わたしはこれにします。

I'll choose this one.

それを少すこし見みせてください。

Please show me that for a moment.

あれが富ふ士じ山さんです。

That over there is Mount Fuji.

赤あか、青あお、黒くろのペンがあります。どれが一いち番ばん書かきやすいですか。

There are red, blue, and black pens. Which one is easiest to write with?

来らい月げつ、店みせが閉しまるんですか。それは本ほん当とうですか。

The shop is closing next month? Is that true?

去きょ年ねんの旅りょ行こうを覚おぼえてる？あれは本ほん当とうに楽たのしかったね。

Do you remember last year's trip? That really was fun.