JLPT N5 grammar · The Absolute Basics
ここ/そこ/あそこ/どこ: meaning, usage and examples
ここ/そこ/あそこ/どこ means: Here, there, over there, where.
How to form it
ここ / そこ / あそこ / どこ (location pronouns)
Examples
トイレはどこですか。
Where is the bathroom?
ここは駅です。
This is the station.
そこにかばんを置いてください。
Please put your bag there.
駅はあそこです。
The station is over there.
When to use it
Used to specify location without naming the place. ここ = here, そこ = there, あそこ = over there, どこ = where.
Nuance
あそこ implies both speaker and listener are distant from the place. そこ can refer to a location just mentioned.
Compare
こちら/そちら/あちら/どちら are more polite equivalents, also used for directions.
Tip: どこにいますか (where are you?) vs. どこにありますか (where is it?): い vs. あり matters.
More in The Absolute Basics
- ~です: to be/ it is (polite)
- ~じゃありません: to not be / it is not (polite)
- ~ですか: (indicates question: sentence end)
- はい/いいえ: yes/no
- そうです: (answer) it is/that's right
- こ/そ/あ/ど (demonstrative prefixes): こ: Something near to the speaker; そ: Something near to the listener; あ: Something far away from both speaker and listener; ど: Something the speaker doesn't see or know about.
- これ/それ/あれ/どれ: This, that, that one over there, which
- この/その/あの/どの [Noun]: this/that/that (over there)/which [Noun]
Frequently asked questions
What does ここ/そこ/あそこ/どこ mean?
Here, there, over there, where. Example: トイレはどこですか。 (Where is the bathroom?)
How do you form ここ/そこ/あそこ/どこ?
ここ / そこ / あそこ / どこ (location pronouns). どこにいますか (where are you?) vs. どこにありますか (where is it?): い vs. あり matters.