これ・それ・あれ・どれ
This one, that one, which one
You’ll be able to point out objects by their distance from you and ask which one someone means.
あれは芽衣の傘です。
are wa mei no kasa desu.
What do you think this sentence means?
That umbrella over there is Mei’s.
Point to things without naming them
Use これ for something near you, それ for something near the listener, and あれ for something away from both of you. Use どれ to ask “which one?”
これは何ですか。
kore wa nan desu ka.
What is this?
Use them as nouns
These words stand on their own, so do not put a noun directly after them. Add whatever particle the sentence needs.
これは私の傘です。
kore wa watashi no kasa desu.
This is my umbrella.
それをください。
sore o kudasai.
Please give me that.
あれは芽衣の傘です。
are wa mei no kasa desu.
That umbrella over there is Mei’s.
田中さんの傘はどれですか。
tanaka-san no kasa wa dore desu ka.
Which one is Tanaka’s umbrella?
これ vs それ vs あれ
Choose the word based on who is closest to the object: near you, near the listener, or far from both of you.
これ, near you
これは私の本です。
kore wa watashi no hon desu.
This is my book.
The item is close to or held by the speaker.
それ, near the listener
それは誰の傘ですか。
sore wa dare no kasa desu ka.
Whose umbrella is that?
The item is near the person being spoken to.
あれ, far from both
あれは芽衣の傘です。
are wa mei no kasa desu.
That umbrella over there is Mei’s.
The item is at a distance from both the speaker and listener.
これは本です。
kore wa hon desu.
This is a book.
それは時計です。
sore wa tokei desu.
That is a watch.
あれは駅です。
are wa eki desu.
That over there is a station.
18 more examples in the grammar path — free for a limited time.