そば

そ

ば

Common wordJLPTN3Freq.FrequencyTop 500

Meanings

noun

nearby; close by; beside; vicinity

usually written using kana alone

Refers to a place or position near something or someone. Often used with に or の to indicate location.

駅えきのそばにコンビニがあります。
There is a convenience store near the station.
彼かれはいつも私わたしのそばにいる。
He is always by my side.

noun

as soon as; right after

usually written using kana alone

Used in the pattern 〜そばから, following the attributive form of a verb, to indicate that something happens immediately after another action, often with a nuance of repetition or inevitability.

Usage patterns

〈人ひと〉のそばにいるto be by someone's side
彼かの女じょはいつも彼かれのそばにいる。
She is always by his side.
〈場ば所しょ〉のそばに〈物もの〉があるthere is something near a place
駅えきのそばにコンビニがある。
There's a convenience store near the station.
そばに〈物もの〉を置おくto keep something close by
水みずをそばに置おいて寝ねた。
I kept water close by and went to sleep.
そばで〈動どう詞し〉to do something while nearby
母ははがそばで見み守まもってくれた。
My mother watched over me from close by.

Expressions

そばからas soon as; right after; no sooner than

Kanji

側side, lean, oppose
傍bystander, side, besides

Related words· 6

近ちかくN4sense 1
近く is a general word for 'near' that covers both space and time, while そば stresses being right next to something or someone.
隣となりN5sense 1
隣 means directly adjacent or next to something, whereas そば just means nearby without implying contact.
傍かたわらN1sense 1
傍ら is a more literary word for 'beside/at one's side' than the everyday そば.
脇わきN2
傍 is a general word for 'nearby' or 'vicinity', while 脇 emphasizes the immediate flank or side of a person or object.

Show 2 more

うどんN4
そば is a thin, dark noodle made from buckwheat flour, while うどん is a thick, white noodle made from wheat flour.
側がわN3
傍 means 'nearby' or 'vicinity', focusing on physical proximity, whereas 側 denotes a distinct side, part, or party.

Opposites

遠とおくN4sense 1
遠く means 'far away', the direct opposite of そば meaning 'nearby'.

Don't confuse with

そばN4sense 1
蕎麦 (そば) is the noodle dish and is written with different kanji from そば meaning 'nearby', though they sound identical.
焼やきそばN1
焼きそば contains そば in its name but is a stir-fried wheat-noodle dish, unlike そば which is buckwheat noodles served cold or in hot broth.

Word family· 14

おそば
near; beside; in the vicinity of · attendant; retainer; vassal
側そばむ
lean to one side; oppose; look aside; regret
そばめ
mistress; kept woman; concubine · close female servant
側そば役やく
personal attendant
側そば木き
wooden side strips of a bow

Show 6 more

そば杖づえ
blow received by a bystander; getting dragged into someone else's fight
側そば泳えい
side stroke
側そば目め
outsider's perspective; as seen by an observer
側そば道みち
side road; shortcut
すぐそば
right beside; close to; nearby
側そばめる
shove aside; look at out of the corner of one's eye

See all 14 in Explore →

Written forms

そばUsage92%
Usually written in kana. Kanji forms 側 and 傍 exist but are less common in modern usage.
傍そばUsage8%
Rare kanji form; mainly literary or older texts.
側そばUsage<1%
Kanji form; can also be read がわ or そく, so context is needed.
ソバUsage<1%

Etymology

From classical そば, meaning a side, edge, or nearby place. The spellings 側 and 傍 represent these related senses.

Meanings

noun

nearby; close by; beside; vicinity

usually written using kana alone

Refers to a place or position near something or someone. Often used with に or の to indicate location.

駅えきのそばにコンビニがあります。
There is a convenience store near the station.
彼かれはいつも私わたしのそばにいる。
He is always by my side.

noun

as soon as; right after

usually written using kana alone

Used in the pattern 〜そばから, following the attributive form of a verb, to indicate that something happens immediately after another action, often with a nuance of repetition or inevitability.