How to Ask “How old are you?” in Japanese

In Japanese, you can point to things and places using 「これ(kore)」「それ(sore)」「あれ(are)」「どれ(dore)」.
These words are essential in everyday conversation and are equivalent to “this,” “that,” and “which” in English.
In this guide, you’ll learn how to use them correctly to describe objects or places. You’ll also get practical examples to help you sound like a native speaker.

Japanese Demonstrative Pronouns: What Are “これ”, “それ”, “あれ”, and “どれ”?

これ (kore) – This (thing near me)

• Used to refer to something near the speaker (close to you).
• Example: This book is mine.

それ (sore) – That (thing near you)

• Used to refer to something near the listener or something the listener is familiar with.
• Example: Is that your pen?

あれ (are) – That (thing over there)

• Used to refer to something far from both the speaker and listener.
• Example: That is a park.

どれ (dore) – Which (thing)

• Used to ask which of the options (out of three or more).
• Example: Which one is your bag?

Examples Using “これ”, “それ”, “あれ”, and “どれ”

1. This is a book.

これは本です。
これはほんです。
Kore wa hon desu.
As for this, it is a book.

2. That is a pen.

それはペンです。
それはぺんです。
Sore wa pen desu.
As for that, it is a pen.

3. That over there is a school.

あれは学校です。
あれはがっこうです。
Are wa gakkou desu.
As for that over there, it is a school.

4. Which one is your bag?

どれがあなたのかばんですか？
どれがあなたのかばんですか？
Dore ga anata no kaban desu ka?
Which one is your bag?

5. This is my phone.

これは私の電話です。
これはわたしのでんわです。
Kore wa watashi no denwa desu.
As for this, it is my phone.

6. That is a coffee shop.

それはカフェです。
それはかふぇです。
Sore wa kafe desu.
As for that, it is a coffee shop.

Vocabulary from This Lesson

Here are the key Japanese words used in this lesson:

• これ：これ (kore)：this (near the speaker)
• それ：それ (sore)：that (near the listener)
• あれ：あれ (are)：that (far from both)
• どれ：どれ (dore)：which (among three or more)
• 本：ほん (hon)：book
• ペン：ぺん (pen)：pen
• 学校：がっこう (gakkou)：school
• 電話：でんわ (denwa)：phone
• カフェ：かふぇ (kafe)：cafe
• かばん：かばん (kaban)：bag

Why Learn “これ”, “それ”, “あれ”, and “どれ”?

Learning these demonstrative pronouns allows you to point out and ask about things in Japanese.
Mastering them helps you engage in basic conversations, such as describing objects or inquiring about unfamiliar items.
They are essential for navigating daily interactions in Japanese, whether you’re shopping, traveling, or simply talking with others.