Shops and eating out · Lesson 11

This one, that one

In shops and restaurants you point a lot. Japanese has four sets of pointing words, all built the same way: こ (near me), そ (near you), あ (over there) and ど (which). Learn the pattern once and you get about twenty words. Tap to hear any line. The bar at the bottom plays a hands-free drill for walking.

JLPT: 21 N5 words4 N4 words in this lesson.

25 pointing words

Each card shows one pointing word and a line from a shop, a café or a restaurant. Staff lines use the polite こちら set. Eight reuse words from earlier lessons.

G01

これこれthingN5

これ、いくらですか？

this one (near me) · How much is this?
G02

それそれthingN5

すみません、それ、見みせてください。

that one (near you) · Excuse me, could you show me that one?
～てください: from Everyday Japanese 1
G03

あれあれthingN5

あれ、おいしそう。

that one over there · That looks good. (another table's dish)
～そう: from Everyday Japanese 1
G04

どれどれthingN5

どれにする？

which one (of three or more) · Which one are you going to have?
G05

このこのシャツ+ nounN5

このシャツのMサイズエムサイズはありますか？

this (+ noun) · Have you got this shirt in a medium?
From Lesson 3
G06

そのその赤あかいの+ nounN5

その赤あかいのをください。

that (+ noun), near you · The red one there, please.
G07

あのあの店みせ+ nounN5

あの店みせ、いつも込こんでるね。

that (+ noun) over there · That shop's always busy, isn't it?
込こむ: from Lesson 1
G08

どのどの色いろ+ nounN5

どの色いろがいい？

which (+ noun) · Which colour do you like?
G09

ここここplaceN5

ここ、座すわってもいいですか？

here · Is it OK if I sit here?
～てもいい: from Everyday Japanese 1
G10

そこそこの〜placeN5

そこのコンビニで買かってくるね。

there (near you) · I'll go and get it at the konbini there.
G11

あそこあそこplaceN5

あそこのレジ、空あいてるよ。

over there · That till over there is free.
空あく: from Lesson 1
G12

どこどこplaceN5

卵たまごはどこにありますか？

where · Where are the eggs?
卵たまご: from Lesson 1
G13

こっちこっちのほうがdirectionN5

こっちのほうが安やすいよ。

this way, this one (casual) · This one's cheaper.
～ほうが: from Everyday Japanese 1
G14

そっちそっちの〜directionN5

そっちの袋ふくろ、持もつよ。

that way, that one (casual) · I'll carry that bag.
袋ふくろ: from Lesson 1
G15

あっちあっちdirectionN5

あっちのほうが空すいてるよ。

over that way (casual) · It's less crowded over there.
G16

どっちどっちdirectionN5

黒くろと白しろ、どっちがいい？

which (of two), which way (casual) · Black or white, which do you prefer?
黒くろ・白しろ: from Lesson 3
G17

こちらこちらstaffN5

お席せきはこちらです。

this way, this (polite) · Staff: Your table is this way.
Staff say this. 席せき: from Lesson 6
G18

そちらそちらはstaffN5

そちらは売うり切きれです。

that one (polite) · Staff: That one's sold out.
Staff say this. 売うり切きれ: from Lesson 1
G19

あちらあちらstaffN5

お手洗てあらいはあちらです。

over there (polite) · Staff: The toilets are over there.
Staff say this
G20

どちらどちらにstaffN5

温あたたかいのと冷つめたいの、どちらになさいますか？

which (polite) · Staff: Hot or iced, which would you like?
Staff say this. 温あたたかい: from Lesson 2
G21

こんなこんな感かんじkindN5

こんな感かんじのバッグ、ありますか？

like this · Have you got a bag like this?
G22

そんなそんな大おおきいのkindN4

そんな大おおきいの、入はいらないよ。

like that · Something that big won't fit.
G23

そんなにそんなにkindN4

えっ、そんなに買かうの？

that much · What, you're buying that many?
G24

あんなあんなkindN4

あんなコートがほしいな。

like that (over there) · I'd like a coat like that.
ほしい: from Everyday Japanese 3
G25

こうこうwayN4

前髪まえがみは、こう切きってください。

like this (this way) · Cut the fringe like this, please. (showing)
前髪まえがみ: from Lesson 10

Near me, near you, over there, which

Every set starts with the same four sounds. Pick the sound for where the thing is, then the ending for what you mean.

Words	Use for	Example
The four sounds
こ	near me	これ・ここ・こっち
そ	near you, or just mentioned	それ・そこ・そっち
あ	over there, away from both of us	あれ・あそこ・あっち
ど	which, where, what kind	どれ・どこ・どっち
The sets
これ・それ・あれ・どれ	a thing, on its own	これください
この・その・あの・どの	+ a noun	このシャツ
ここ・そこ・あそこ・どこ	a place	ここ、空あいてますか？
こんな・そんな・あんな・どんな	a kind of thing, + noun	こんなバッグ
Casual and polite
こっち・そっち・あっち・どっち	casual: friends, family	こっちのほうがいい
こちら・そちら・あちら・どちら	polite: staff, strangers	こちらへどうぞ

Near you or over there? Use それ for something near the other person, or something just mentioned. Use あれ for something away from both of you.
Polite or casual. こっち・そっち・あっち・どっち are casual. Staff say こちら・そちら・あちら・どちら, and you can too, to be polite.
A thing, or a thing + noun? これ stands on its own: これください. この needs a noun after it: このシャツ.
Which of two. For two things, ask どっち. For three or more, ask どれ.

Three patterns to use today

〜のほうが

"This one's more …" Compare with こっち and そっち.

そっちのほうが似合にあうよ。

That one suits you better.

あっちのほうが近ちかいよ。

It's closer that way.

AとB、どっちがいい？

"A or B, which do you prefer?" Staff say どちら.

コーヒーと紅茶こうちゃ、どっちがいい？

Coffee or tea, which do you want?

店内てんないとお持もち帰かえり、どちらですか？

Staff: For here or to take away?

こんなの・そんなの・あんなの

"One like this / that." の stands for the thing.

こんなのはありますか？

Have you got one like this?

あんなのがいいな。

I'd like one like that.

Say it in Japanese

Say each one out loud before you reveal the answer. Getting close counts.

1. Which one do you want? (of several)
2. I'll take this one.
3. Is this seat free?
4. Which is cheaper? (of two)
5. Where's the fitting room?
6. That one suits you better.
7. Can I see that one, please? (near the staff)
8. Staff: The toilets are over there.
9. Cut it like this, please.
10. You're buying that many?