こんな・そんな・あんな
This kind, that kind, that kind over there
You'll be able to point to a type of thing based on what is near the speaker, near the listener, distant from both, or already under discussion.
芽衣はこんな大きい葉を見つけました。
mei wa konna ookii ha o mitsukemashita.
What do you think this sentence means?
Mei found a leaf this big.
Point to a kind of thing
こんな, そんな, and あんな identify a type or quality. They can refer to something near the speaker, near the listener, or away from both, and also to something just described.
そんなかばんが欲しいです。
sonna kaban ga hoshii desu.
I want that kind of bag.
Form and use こんな・そんな・あんな
Attach these words directly to a noun; do not add の. そんな often refers back to what the other person said. Unlike この, which picks out a particular item, こんな emphasizes “this kind of” item.
こんな時計が欲しいです。
konna tokei ga hoshii desu.
I want this kind of watch.
そんなかばんが欲しいです。
sonna kaban ga hoshii desu.
I want that kind of bag.
あんな家に住みたいです。
anna ie ni sumitai desu.
I want to live in a house like that one over there.
財布をなくしたんですか。そんなときは、すぐ交番に行ってください。
saifu o nakushita n desu ka. sonna toki wa, sugu kouban ni itte kudasai.
You lost your wallet? When that happens, go to a police box right away.
この写真を見てください。こんな部屋に住みたいです。
kono shashin o mite kudasai. konna heya ni sumitai desu.
Look at this photo. I want to live in a room like this.
あそこに大きい犬がいるでしょう。あんな犬がほしいです。
asoko ni ookii inu ga iru deshou. anna inu ga hoshii desu.
You see that big dog over there? I want a dog like that.
7 more examples in the grammar path — free for a limited time.