🌸 Japanese Topic 13場所🌱 Beginner

ここ・そこ・あそこ

koko / soko / asoko

Here, There, Over There

🌸 Demonstrative Pronouns for Places 🌸

💬 Dialogue

📍 Talking about Locations 📍

アレックス：すみません、トイレはどこですか。

Sumimasen, toire wa doko desu ka.

Excuse me, where is the restroom?

ゆき：トイレはここです。

Toire wa koko desu.

The restroom is here.

アレックス：ありがとうございます。じむしょはそこですか。

Arigatou gozaimasu. Jimusho wa soko desu ka.

Thank you. Is the office there?

ゆき：いいえ、そこはきょうしつです。

Iie, soko wa kyoushitsu desu.

No, that place is a classroom.

アレックス：じむしょはどこですか。

Jimusho wa doko desu ka.

Where is the office?

ゆき：じむしょはあそこです。

Jimusho wa asoko desu.

The office is over there.

📖 Vocabulary

5 words

KanaRomajiEnglish

ここkokohere (near speaker)

そこsokothere (near listener)

あそこasokoover there (far from both)

どこdokowhere

じむしょjimushooffice

⭐ Key Sentence

場所はここ/そこ/あそこです。

Basho wa koko/soko/asoko desu.

The place is here/there/over there.

Pattern: [Place] は [koko/soko/asoko] です。
Meaning: Indicating location based on distance.

きょうしつはここです。

Kyoushitsu wa koko desu.

The classroom is here.

トイレはあそこです。

Toire wa asoko desu.

The restroom is over there.

🎓 Explanation

In Japanese, demonstrative pronouns for places change depending on the distance from the speaker and the listener.

ここ (Koko) refers to a place near the speaker.

そこ (Soko) refers to a place near the listener.

あそこ (Asoko) refers to a place far from both the speaker and the listener.

To ask 'where', use the interrogative どこ (doko).

Koko wa jimusho desu.
= 'This place is the office.'

Toire wa doko desu ka?
= 'Where is the restroom?'

📝 Quiz

Which word would you use to point to a location far away from both people?