Diary post
Part I - This/That
1. これ (kore)
Kore means “this” and you use it in pretty much exactly the same way as you do in English, although there is a catch! "Kore" is "this" by itself, and is not used with a noun.
Examples: これは難しいですね？
Kore wa muzukashii desu ne? This is hard, huh?
｢これで良かったんです･･･｣
Kore de yokattan desu... This was good. **
** ｢これで良かったんです･･･｣ is the name of a Gazette song on 『犯行声明分』 (hankouseimeibun). =D
1.1 これら (korera)
Korera means "these" as it's just "kore" with the plural particle "ra" added to the end. I don't think it's used very often as plurals are hardly ever specified in Japanese, but it's used in the same way as kore.
2. この (kono)
This is the "this" you use when talking about nouns! Notice how this "this" has the possession particle "no" in it? It links the "this" to the noun.
Examples: この本を読みましたか。
Kono hon wo yomimashita ka. Have you read this book?
この映画は面白いですか。
Kono eiga wa omoshiroi desu ka. Is this movie good [[interesting]]?
2.1 こういう (kouiu)
This took me forever to learn, so be grateful you're learning it this early! It's not really the type of thing they teach you in text books. =/ Kouiu means "this sort of". As you can probably tell, it stems from "kono" and is used in relatively the same way as kono.
Example: こういう曲は難しいよ。
Kouiu kyoku wa muzukashii yo. This sort of song is hard.
3. それ (sore)
This isn't pronounced the same way as the English word "sore". It's so-re; two separate syllables. Sore means "that" and is used in the same way as "kore"; without a noun.
3.1 それら (sorera)
This isn't used that often but sort of takes on the meaning of "those over there" when used.
4. その (sono)
Means "that" and is used in the same way as in English. i.e. "that house", "that cat", "that book", etc.
4.1 そういう (souiu)
The same as "kouiu" as is used when you want to say "that sort of ..."
5. あれ (are)
Are (pronounced a-re) means "that over there" and is used for something that is further away than "sore". Although "ano" stems from "are", it doesn't seem to be used as much as the former as you rarely find yourself saying something like "That over there is good." or equivalent.
Note: "Are" is also an interjection, kind of like "huh?". It's rather colloquial though.
Example: あれ？何と言ってた？
Are? Nani to itteta? Huh? What did you say?
6. あの (ano)
As previously explained, "ano" means "that over there".
Note: Ano is also an interjection! You've probably heard Ruki say "anou...." many a time when he does his MC at lives and he's basically just saying "um....". XD
When to use?
Okay, so you're probably wondering when it's okay to use these words. These general rules usually apply:
Kono: Used to refer to something that is both close to the speaker and the listener. Can be used if the object is close to the speaker and far away from the listener, much like in English.
Sono: Used to refer to something that is far away from the speaker but closer to the listener.
Ano: Used to refer to something that is both far away from the speaker and the listener.
For example, if you wanted to ask someone standing across the room from you if it was alright to read the book that was on the table in front of you, you would use kono as the book you are asking about is close to you. However, if the person you asked was holding another book you wanted to read, you would use sono to refer to that book as it is far away from you. As far as I know, ano is generally used for things that are pretty far away, such as buildings and things that aren't contained in the room that you're in.
Part II - Here/There
1. ここ (koko)
Koko means "here".
Example: あなたのCDはここにあります。
Anata no CD wa koko ni arimasu. Your CD is here.
2. そこ (soko)
Means "there".
3. あそこ (asoko)
Means "over there"; it's more distant than "soko".
Okay, I think that's it for this lesson. I can't think of anything else as my brain is kind of fried, but I have the feeling I missed something out with the here/there part. If I did, please let me know!
Next lesson will be 音楽の言葉！ (ongaku no kotoba | Music terms!)
Oh, and how do you guys feel about tests and things like that? I think it would be a good way to learn if you started making your own sentences from the things you learn and try out using Japanese.
1. これ (kore)
Kore means “this” and you use it in pretty much exactly the same way as you do in English, although there is a catch! "Kore" is "this" by itself, and is not used with a noun.
Examples: これは難しいですね？
Kore wa muzukashii desu ne? This is hard, huh?
｢これで良かったんです･･･｣
Kore de yokattan desu... This was good. **
** ｢これで良かったんです･･･｣ is the name of a Gazette song on 『犯行声明分』 (hankouseimeibun). =D
1.1 これら (korera)
Korera means "these" as it's just "kore" with the plural particle "ra" added to the end. I don't think it's used very often as plurals are hardly ever specified in Japanese, but it's used in the same way as kore.
2. この (kono)
This is the "this" you use when talking about nouns! Notice how this "this" has the possession particle "no" in it? It links the "this" to the noun.
Examples: この本を読みましたか。
Kono hon wo yomimashita ka. Have you read this book?
この映画は面白いですか。
Kono eiga wa omoshiroi desu ka. Is this movie good [[interesting]]?
2.1 こういう (kouiu)
This took me forever to learn, so be grateful you're learning it this early! It's not really the type of thing they teach you in text books. =/ Kouiu means "this sort of". As you can probably tell, it stems from "kono" and is used in relatively the same way as kono.
Example: こういう曲は難しいよ。
Kouiu kyoku wa muzukashii yo. This sort of song is hard.
3. それ (sore)
This isn't pronounced the same way as the English word "sore". It's so-re; two separate syllables. Sore means "that" and is used in the same way as "kore"; without a noun.
3.1 それら (sorera)
This isn't used that often but sort of takes on the meaning of "those over there" when used.
4. その (sono)
Means "that" and is used in the same way as in English. i.e. "that house", "that cat", "that book", etc.
4.1 そういう (souiu)
The same as "kouiu" as is used when you want to say "that sort of ..."
5. あれ (are)
Are (pronounced a-re) means "that over there" and is used for something that is further away than "sore". Although "ano" stems from "are", it doesn't seem to be used as much as the former as you rarely find yourself saying something like "That over there is good." or equivalent.
Note: "Are" is also an interjection, kind of like "huh?". It's rather colloquial though.
Example: あれ？何と言ってた？
Are? Nani to itteta? Huh? What did you say?
6. あの (ano)
As previously explained, "ano" means "that over there".
Note: Ano is also an interjection! You've probably heard Ruki say "anou...." many a time when he does his MC at lives and he's basically just saying "um....". XD
When to use?
Okay, so you're probably wondering when it's okay to use these words. These general rules usually apply:
Kono: Used to refer to something that is both close to the speaker and the listener. Can be used if the object is close to the speaker and far away from the listener, much like in English.
Sono: Used to refer to something that is far away from the speaker but closer to the listener.
Ano: Used to refer to something that is both far away from the speaker and the listener.
For example, if you wanted to ask someone standing across the room from you if it was alright to read the book that was on the table in front of you, you would use kono as the book you are asking about is close to you. However, if the person you asked was holding another book you wanted to read, you would use sono to refer to that book as it is far away from you. As far as I know, ano is generally used for things that are pretty far away, such as buildings and things that aren't contained in the room that you're in.
Part II - Here/There
1. ここ (koko)
Koko means "here".
Example: あなたのCDはここにあります。
Anata no CD wa koko ni arimasu. Your CD is here.
2. そこ (soko)
Means "there".
3. あそこ (asoko)
Means "over there"; it's more distant than "soko".
Okay, I think that's it for this lesson. I can't think of anything else as my brain is kind of fried, but I have the feeling I missed something out with the here/there part. If I did, please let me know!
Next lesson will be 音楽の言葉！ (ongaku no kotoba | Music terms!)
Oh, and how do you guys feel about tests and things like that? I think it would be a good way to learn if you started making your own sentences from the things you learn and try out using Japanese.