If you’re learning Japanese, you’ve probably come across these four little words: これ, それ, あれ, and どれ. They’re part of the demonstrative pronoun family — used to point things out. At first glance, they all seem to mean “this,” “that,” or “which,” and it gets confusing fast.
But the difference between them is simple once you understand the logic: it’s all about distance — both physical and relational — from the speaker and the listener.
これ (kore) – “This one”
Used when the item is close to you, the speaker.
Think: “this thing right here (near me).”
Example:
これはりんごです。
Kore wa ringo desu.
“This is an apple.”
You’re probably holding the apple or pointing to it in front of you.
それ (sore) – “That one (near you)”
Used when the item is near the listener.
Think: “that thing near you.”
Example:
それはペンですか？
Sore wa pen desu ka?
“Is that a pen?”
You’re asking about something close to the other person, not you.
あれ (are) – “That one over there”
Used when the item is far from both of you.
Think: “that thing over there (away from us both).”
Example:
あれは山です。
Are wa yama desu.
“That is a mountain.”
The object is distant — not with you, nor with the listener.
どれ (dore) – “Which one?”
Used when choosing among three or more items.
Think: “which one (of these)?”
Example:
どれがあなたのかばんですか？
Dore ga anata no kaban desu ka?
“Which one is your bag?”
This is the question word — used when you don’t know which item is being referred to.
Quick Visual Guide
| Pronoun | Meaning | Proximity |
|---|---|---|
| これ | this one | Near speaker |
| それ | that one | Near listener |
| あれ | that one over there | Far from both |
| どれ | which one? | Unknown (choosing) |
Bonus Tip: No Nouns Needed
All four of these are pronouns, meaning they stand alone. So don’t use them directly with nouns.
Correct usage: これは本です。
Translation: “This is a book.”
Incorrect usage: これ本はです。
Explanation: This is incorrect because demonstrative pronouns like これ shouldn’t be used directly before a noun.
If you do want to use them with nouns, use the adjective forms instead:
- この (this + noun)
- その (that + noun)
- あの (that over there + noun)
- どの (which + noun)
Example:
この本はおもしろいです。
Kono hon wa omoshiroi desu.
“This book is interesting.”
Wrap-up: Mastering これ, それ, あれ, and どれ
Here’s the essential idea:
- これ = near me
- それ = near you
- あれ = over there
- どれ = which one?
Once you connect them to distance and point of view, they stop being a headache. Practice with real objects around you, and they’ll click in no time.
