this/that: ways & sides

Stage 3Pointing, question & people wordsChunk 4 of 32 · items 254–257 of 484

The ko/so/a/do direction row for which way, whose side and which of two, each with a polite -chira form.

Mix-ups

dotchi is for two choices, dore for three or more; kotchi and sotchi can also mean 'me' and 'you', so listen for people, not places. The -chira forms are what you say to customers and strangers; with coworkers kotchi/dotchi + desu is normal.

kotchi

polite kochiradrama rank #148

this way; this one (of two)

こっちPlay こちらPlay

Points to a direction, a side or one of two choices (kotchi ga ii), and casually also means 'me, my side' (kotchi wa daijoubu).

casualPlay

kotchi ga ii na.

I'd like this one.

こっちがいいな。

politePlay

kochira ga ii desu.

I'd like this one.

こちらがいいです。

kochira also introduces people: kochira wa tanaka-san desu.

Learn alongside: dotchi, sotchi, atchiLearn first: koko

dotchi

polite dochiradrama rank #471

which (of two); which way

どっちPlay どちらPlay

Asks which of two, or which direction, and takes ga (dotchi ga ii?).

casualPlay

dotchi ga ii?

Which of the two do you want?

どっちがいい？

politePlay

dochira ga ii desu ka?

Which would you prefer?

どちらがいいですか？

dotchi demo ii means 'either is fine'.

Learn alongside: kotchi, sotchi, atchiLearn first: kotchi

sotchi

polite sochiradrama rank #423

that way; your side; you

そっちPlay そちらPlay

The direction or choice on the listener's side, and casually a way to say 'you' without anata (sotchi wa dou?).

casualPlay

sotchi ga ii yo.

Go with that one.

そっちがいいよ。

politePlay

sochira ga ii desu yo.

That one would be better.

そちらがいいですよ。

sotchi wa? means 'and you?', a casual way around anata.

Learn alongside: kotchi, dotchi, atchiLearn first: kotchi

atchi

polite achiradrama rank #641

over there; that way

あっちPlay あちらPlay

The direction or thing away from both of you, used mostly for pointing out the way (atchi da yo).

casualPlay

atchi ga ii na.

That one over there looks better.

あっちがいいな。

politePlay

achira ga ii desu ne.

That one over there looks better.

あちらがいいですね。

Learn atchi da yo, 'it's that way', first.

Learn alongside: kotchi, dotchi, sotchiLearn first: kotchi