Translation guide
Expressions for referring to a type or kind of thing, often when pointing out or describing something nearby or previously mentioned.
this sort of problem
Neutral, suitable for most situations
The speaker wants to say 'this kind of thing' or 'this type', often while indicating something physically close or just talked about.
A common and neutral way to say 'this sort of' or 'like this'. It modifies a noun and is used in both spoken and written Japanese.
This sort of problem is a first for me.
I like this sort of design.
Very common in spoken Japanese. Slightly more casual than このような, but still widely used. It directly means 'this kind of'.
This sort of thing happens often.
I like this sort of movie.
Casual and very common in conversation. It can express a nuance of 'this sort of' with a feeling of 'like this' and sometimes carries an emotional tone (surprise, admiration, etc.).
I never thought this sort of thing would happen.
I want this sort of clothes.
Literally 'of this hand/type', used to mean 'this sort of' or 'this kind of'. It is slightly more colloquial and often used when categorizing things.
I often hear this sort of story.
Similar to このような but slightly more formal or written. It is often used in explanations or reports.
This sort of effort leads to success.
All three mean 'this sort of', but このような is neutral and can be used in any situation. こういう is very common in speech and slightly more casual. こんな is the most casual and often carries an emotional nuance. In formal writing, stick to このような or こうした.
We got this sort of result. (formal)
We got this sort of result. (casual speech)
To think we'd get this sort of result! (emotional)
The English word 'sort' does not directly translate to a single Japanese word in this context. Avoid using 種類 (しゅるい, type/kind) alone to mean 'this sort' unless you are specifically talking about a category or classification. Instead, use the phrases above.
This type of problem (focus on category)
I don't like this sort of music.
This sort of behavior is unacceptable.