Translation guide
In Japanese, 'those' is usually expressed with the demonstrative あれら or それら, but these are not used as frequently as 'those' in English. Often, the context makes the reference clear without a direct equivalent, or other structures are preferred.
Pointing out or referring to multiple items that are distant from both the speaker and the listener.
The standard demonstrative for 'those' (plural, distant). Used when the items are visible or previously mentioned and are far from both parties.
What are those?
Please pass me those.
When referring to people or animate objects, あの followed by a noun and たち (or ら) is more natural than あれら.
Who are those people?
If the items are clear from context, Japanese often omits the subject or object entirely. This is very common and natural.
How much are those?
Referring back to multiple items that were mentioned earlier in the conversation or text.
Used for 'those' when referring to things previously mentioned, especially in written or formal contexts. それら points to items related to the listener or the discourse.
Referring to a group of people in a polite or respectful manner.
Polite way to say 'those people'. 方々 (かたがた) is the honorific plural of 方 (かた, person).
Used in patterns like 'those who...' or 'those of...'.
Attach 人たち (ひとたち) to a modifier to mean 'those people who...'. More natural than a direct pronoun.
While あれら and それら are direct translations, they sound stiff or overly precise in casual conversation. Often, Japanese speakers will use あの＋noun or simply omit the pronoun when context is clear.
Those shoes are cute.
あれら is for things distant from both speaker and listener (physical or psychological). それら is for things closer to the listener or previously mentioned in discourse. In many cases, repeating the noun with その or あの is more natural.
Those are important issues.
Can also be used anaphorically when the items are shared knowledge between speaker and listener, but それら is more common for discourse reference.
Those movies we saw yesterday were interesting.
Instead of using a pronoun, simply repeat the noun or use a descriptive phrase. This is often more natural in Japanese.
Those books are expensive.
Who are those people?
Can be used to refer to a person or group in a polite, indirect way, similar to 'that person/those people'.
Those are Mr./Ms. Tanaka.
Those who are late will not be admitted.
For inanimate objects, もの (物) can be used after a modifier to mean 'those things which...'.
I bought all those things that are necessary.