Japanese grammar
What does ここ・そこ・あそこ mean? Japanese grammar N5
ここ・そこ・あそこ means here / there / over there (place).
| Level (estimated, JLPT framework) | N5 |
|---|---|
| Structure | ここ は N です N は ここ です |
| Romaji | koko / soko / asoko |
| Meaning | here / there / over there (place) |
How to use it
Points to a location.
- ここ: where the speaker is standing. そこ: where the listener is. あそこ: a place far from both.
- The corresponding question word is どこ (where).
- More polite versions (used with guests/customers): こちら・そちら・あちら・どちら.
Examples
ここは駅です。
This place is the station.
トイレはどこですか。
Where is the toilet?
Common mistakes
-
Wrongこれは駅です。（when trying to say "this place is the station"）
Correctここは駅です。
これ points to a THING, while ここ points to a PLACE.