これは / それは / あれは – Japanese Demonstratives Explained

これは / それは / あれは are basic demonstratives in Japanese used to refer to objects based on distance from the speaker and listener. Understanding the difference between these three will help you clearly identify and refer to objects in daily conversation. Let’s break it down!

Meaning & Usage

• これは (kore wa): This is… – Refers to something near the speaker.
• それは (sore wa): That is… – Refers to something near the listener.
• あれは (are wa): That over there is… – Refers to something far from both speaker and listener.

Example Sentences

これは (This is…)

• これは りんごです。
  This is an apple.
• これは わたしの かばんです。
  This is my bag.

それは (That is…)

• それは あなたの ほんですか？
  Is that your book?
• それは いぬの おもちゃです。
  That is the dog’s toy.

あれは (That over there is…)

• あれは わたしたちの がっこうです。
  That over there is our school.
• あれは ふじさんです。
  That over there is Mt. Fuji.

Comparison Chart

Vocabulary List

• りんご – apple
• かばん – bag
• ほん – book
• いぬ – dog
• おもちゃ – toy
• がっこう – school
• ふじさん – Mt. Fuji
• けいたい – mobile phone
• やま – mountain

Kanji List

• 本（ほん）– book
• 犬（いぬ）– dog
• 学⼯（がっこう）– school
• 富士⼭（ふじさん）– Mt. Fuji
• 山（やま）– mountain

Grammar Notes

• All three forms use the particle は (wa) to mark the topic of the sentence.
• These are part of a broader system of demonstratives: こ (this), そ (that), あ (that over there).
• When used with a noun, use この / その / あの instead of これは / それは / あれは.

Exercises

1. ______ は えんぴつです。(You are holding a pencil)
   Answer: これは
2. ______ は あなたの しゃしんですか？ (The listener has a photo)
   Answer: それは
3. ______ は しんかんせんです。 (Pointing to the train far away)
   Answer: あれは

Related Grammar & Vocabulary

• JLPT N5 Grammar List – 60 Essential Grammar Points
• そう思います – I think so
• そうだ – I heard that
• た-form – past tense; completed action
• て-form – connects actions; request form
• てください – please do ~
• と – and; with; if/when
• ところ – about to; in the middle of
• とき – when
• は – topic marker
• よく – often; well

Summary

In this post, we learned how to use これは / それは / あれは to refer to objects based on their relative position. These demonstratives are essential for building simple, clear sentences and are a fundamental part of JLPT N5 grammar. Don’t forget to practice with objects around you!

thuandao

I’m a software engineer based in Japan, with experience in developing web and mobile applications. I’m passionate about technology, especially in DevOps, AI, and app development using platforms like AWS, Flutter, and Node.js. My goal is to build a website that shares knowledge about the Japanese language and IT, helping everyone learn and grow more easily in the digital era.