N5 Vocabulary: Pronouns & demonstratives — 24 words with memory tricks
Japanese demonstratives follow the neat こ・そ・あ・ど system: learn four prefixes and four endings and the whole table falls out. This lesson gathers 24 words: demonstratives (これ/それ/あれ/どれ…), places and personal pronouns.
01
これ
これ
kore
this one
💡 こ = near me + れ (thing) → "this one". kore.
これは何ですか？What is this?
02
それ
それ
sore
that one
💡 そ = near you + れ → "that one". sore.
それは何ですか？What is that?
03
あれ
あれ
are
that one (over there)
💡 あ = far from both + れ → "that one over there". are.
あれは何ですか？What is that?
04
どれ
どれ
dore
which one
💡 ど = question + れ → "which one?". dore.
どれがあなたのですか？Which one is yours?
05
この
この
kono
this
💡 こ + の (modifies a noun) → この本 (this book). kono.
この本は面白いです。This book is interesting.
06
その
その
sono
that
💡 そ + の → その人 (that person). sono.
その本は面白いですか？Is that book interesting?
07
どの
どの
dono
which
💡 ど + の → どの本 (which book?). dono.
どの本が面白いですか？Which book is interesting?
08
ここ
ここ
koko
here, this place
💡 こ + こ (place) → "here". koko.
ここはどこですか？Where is this?
09
そこ
そこ
soko
that place, there; bottom, sole
💡 そ + こ → "there". soko.
そこに鞄を置いてください。Please put the bag there.
10
あそこ
あそこ
asoko
there, over there, that place
💡 あ + そこ → "over there". asoko.
あそこに猫がいます。There is a cat over there.
11
どこ
どこ
doko
where, what place
💡 ど + こ → "where?". doko.
どこへ行きますか？Where are you going?
12
こちら
こちら
kochira
this person (polite); this way (polite)
💡 こ + ちら (polite) → "this way / this person". kochira (casual: こっち).
こちらこそよろしく。Nice to meet you too.
13
そちら
そちら
sochira
over there
💡 そ + ちら → "that way" (polite). sochira.
そちらは誰ですか？Who is that person?
14
どちら
どちら
dochira
which (one) (way); where (polite)
💡 ど + ちら → "which way / which one?" (polite). dochira.
どちらが好きですか？Which one do you like?
15
私
わたくし
watakushi
I (formal), myself, private affairs
💡 watashi = I / me (neutral, always safe).
私は学生です。I am a student.
16
あなた
あなた
anata
you
💡 anata = you. Use sparingly — Japanese prefer the person's name.
あなたは誰ですか？Who are you?
17
自分
じぶん
jibun
myself, oneself
💡 自 (self) + 分 (part) → oneself. jibun.
自分を大切にしてください。Please take care of yourself.
18
誰
だれ
dare
who
💡 dare = who? (どなた donata = who, polite).
あの方は誰ですか？Who is that person?
19
人
ひと
hito
man, person
💡 人 pictures a person walking. hito = person.
人がたくさんいます。There are many people.
20
みんな
みんな
minna
all, everyone, everybody
💡 minna = everyone (casual).
みんなで歌いましょう。Let's all sing together.
21
皆さん
みなさん
minasan
all of you, everyone
💡 皆 (all) + さん → "everyone" (polite). minasan.
皆さん、こんにちは。Hello everyone.
22
何
なに
nani
what
💡 nani / nan = what? (becomes なん before certain sounds).
これは何ですか？What is this?
23
どんな
どんな
donna
what, what kind of
💡 ど (question) + んな → "what kind of?". donna.
どんな料理が好きですか？What kind of food do you like?
24
こんな
こんな
konna
such, like this
💡 こ (this) + んな → "like this". konna.
こんな本が読みたかった。I wanted to read a book like this.
Memory tricks
- The こ・そ・あ・ど system — learn it once: こ = near me (this), そ = near you (that), あ = far from both, ど = question (which/where). Combine with endings: れ (thing), こ (place), の (modifier), ちら (polite).
- Examples: これ (this) / そこ (there) / あの人 (that person) / どちら (which way). Just prefix + ending.
- Personal pronouns: 私 watashi (I), あなた anata (you — use sparingly), 自分 jibun (oneself), 誰 dare (who).
- みんな (casual) vs 皆さん (polite) = everyone.
- Spaced repetition in Memoro.
→ See all N5 Pronouns & demonstratives vocabulary
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