Places: ここ・そこ・あそこ・どこ
Place は ここ／そこ／あそこ です
ここ (here), そこ (there, by you), あそこ (over there), どこ (where?). Polite versions: こちら, そちら, あちら, どちら.
In short
ここ = here (near me), そこ = there (near you), あそこ = over there, どこ = where? “トイレは どこですか” is one of the most useful sentences for travel.
- トイレは どこですか。toire wa doko desu kaWhere are the toilets?
- 駅は あそこです。eki wa asoko desuThe station is over there.
- ここは 学校です。koko wa gakkō desuThis is the school.
The basics
ここ, そこ, あそこ and どこ name places, with the same zones as これ・それ・あれ: here (near me), there (near you), over there (far from both of us), where?
| Place | Zone | Polite version |
|---|---|---|
| ここ | here | こちら |
| そこ | there, near you | そちら |
| あそこ | over there | あちら |
| どこ | where? | どちら |
Asking and pointing out a place
To ask where something is: the place, は, then どこですか. To answer, you replace どこ with ここ, そこ, あそこ or a landmark.
- トイレは どこですか。toire wa doko desu kaWhere are the toilets?
- あそこです。asoko desuIt's over there.
- えきは ここです。eki wa koko desuThe station is here.
The polite version: こちら
In a shop or a hotel, you'll hear こちら, そちら, あちら, どちら. They mean the same thing, more politely. こちら is also used to introduce someone: こちらは 田中さんです (this is Mr Tanaka).
- トイレは あちらです。toire wa achira desuThe toilets are that way. (polite)
Common mistakes
- Saying あそこ for a place right next to the person you're talking to: it's そこ.
- Leaving out は: “トイレ どこですか” is understood in speech, but “トイレは どこですか” is the correct form.
- Mixing up どこ (where) and どれ (which one): one looks for a place, the other for an object.
5 exercises on this point
Particles to choose, sentences to put back in order, translations: marked straight away, then reviewed at the right time. This JLPT N5 point is on the Hanzomon Line (This, that, who, where) of the Tokyo subway.