2.3 Demonstratives: KORE, SORE, ARE
Completion requirements
2.3 Demonstratives: KORE , SORE , ARE
In Japanese, when you want to indicate or ask about a noun, use KORE, SORE and ARE.
When talking about objects, the important thing is to know where the object is in relation to the SPEAKER and in relation to the LISTENER.
KORE
"this thing/one" (that is close to me, the speaker, but not close to you, the listener)
Example:
Mayumi (pointing at object close to her but far from Shingo): " Kore wa nan desu ka."
Shingo (indicating object that is far from him but close to Mayumi): " Sore wa keshigomu desu."
Example:
Mayumi (pointing at object close to her but far from Shingo): " Kore wa nan desu ka."
Shingo (indicating object that is far from him but close to Mayumi): " Sore wa keshigomu desu."
SORE
"that thing/one" (that is close to you, the listener, but NOT close to me, the speaker)
Example:
Mayumi (pointing at object close to Shingo but far from her): " Sore wa nan desu ka."
Shingo (pointing at object close to him): " Kore wa isu desu."
Example:
Mayumi (pointing at object close to Shingo but far from her): " Sore wa nan desu ka."
Shingo (pointing at object close to him): " Kore wa isu desu."
ARE
"that thing/one, over there" (that is far away from both me, the speaker, and you, the listener)
Example:
Mayumi (pointing to object far from herself and from Shingo): " Are wa nan desu ka."
Shingo (pointing to object far from both of them): " Are wa gomibako desu."
Example:
Mayumi (pointing to object far from herself and from Shingo): " Are wa nan desu ka."
Shingo (pointing to object far from both of them): " Are wa gomibako desu."
DORE
Dore is the interrogative noun that means "Which one."
Dore desu ka. = Which one is it?
Kore desu. = It's this one.
Dore desu ka. = Which one is it?
Kore desu. = It's this one.
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MITE / WATCH
Now that you've read about KORE, SORE and ARE, watch the video below to see Daisuke-san and Kaera-san using KORE, SORE and ARE. Notice the distance between them and the objects they are discussing.