Humble first-person pronoun used in formal or business settings to refer to oneself or one's group. Often used on the phone or when introducing one's company.

こちらは田た中なかと申もうします。
This is Tanaka speaking.
こちらからまたご連れん絡らくいたします。
We will contact you again.

pronoun

this person

usually written using kana alone

Only with reading こちら

Polite way to refer to someone near the speaker, especially when introducing someone of equal or higher status. Restricted to the reading こちら.

こちらは山やま田だ様さまでいらっしゃいます。
This is Mr. Yamada.
こちらの方ほうが担たん当とう者しゃです。
This person is the person in charge.

Usage patterns

こちらへどうぞthis way, please
お客きゃく様さま、こちらへどうぞ。
This way, please, sir.
こちらでお待まちくださいplease wait here
こちらでお待まちください。
Please wait here.
こちらになりますthis is the one/this is it (polite, presenting an item)
ご注ちゅう文もんの品しなはこちらになります。
Here is the item you ordered.
こちらこそthe pleasure/fault is mine too (polite reciprocal reply)
「ありがとうございました。」「いえ、こちらこそ。」
"Thank you very much." "No, thank YOU."
こちらは〈人ひと〉さんですthis is (a polite way to introduce someone)
こちらは田た中なかさんです。
This is Mr. Tanaka.

Grammar

こちら・そちら・あちら・どちらPolite directions, places, sides, and referencesN5

Kanji

此this, current, next
方direction, person, alternative

Related words

当とう方ほう
こちら is the casual, everyday way to refer to one's own side in conversation, while 当方 is reserved for formal writing such as business letters and official documents.
当とう地ち
こちら is a polite, conversational way to refer to 'this place', whereas 当地 is reserved for formal writing and official reports.

Opposites

あちらN5
あちら points to a place, thing, or person far from both speaker and listener, while こちら points to one near the speaker.
向むこう側がわN1
こちら refers to 'this side' or the speaker's side, directly opposing 向こう側's 'the other side'.
そちらN5
そちら points toward the listener's side, while こちら points toward the speaker's side.

Politeness

忽こっ地ちplain
こちら is the polite, formal way to say 'this way/here/this one/I', while こっち is the casual everyday equivalent used with friends and family.

Don't confuse with

そちらN5
こちら points to something near the speaker, while そちら points to something near the listener; learners often mix up which side each refers to.
あちらN5
こちら refers to what is near the speaker, whereas あちら refers to something far from both speaker and listener.
どちらN5
こちら names a specific direction/place/thing near the speaker, while どちら is the question word asking 'which one' or 'where'.

Written forms

こちらUsage70%
Standard polite form; the most common spelling for all senses.
こっちUsage27%
Casual, everyday form; used in informal speech for all senses.
コチラUsage2%
此方Usage1%

Etymology

Derived from the proximal demonstrative こ (this) combined with a directional suffix. The exact historical derivation is uncertain, but it is part of the systematic ko-so-a-do demonstrative series.

向むこう

こちら refers to this side or one's own party, the direct opposite of 向こう which points to the far side or the other party.

Usage for this spelling across all readings, not one reading alone.

rarely-used kanji form

こちら
Rare kanji form; almost always written in kana.
こち
out-dated reading
こっち

こちUsage<1%

out-dated reading

Obsolete kana form; not used in modern Japanese.