ここ / そこ / あそこ / どこ
English often uses “there” for more than one place. Japanese asks you to distinguish the listener’s area from somewhere away from both of you.
Learn
ここ is here, near the speaker. そこ is there, near the listener. あそこ is over there, away from both. どこ asks “where?” This is the same basic pattern you met with これ・それ・あれ・どれ.
| ここ | そこ | あそこ | どこ | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| English cue | here | there near you | over there | where? |
| Area | near me | near you | away from both of us | — |
In this speaker–listener pattern, そこ does not simply mean “medium distance.” It points to your area when I am speaking to you, even if you are quite close to me.
Notice the recurring beginnings: こ・そ・あ・ど. これ points to a thing near me; ここ points to a place near me. この goes before a noun to say “this …”. These beginnings help you recognize the pattern, but each word still has its own job.
Examples
ここ は 学校 です。
This is the school.
トイレ は そこ です。
The restroom is there, near you.
駅 は あそこ です。
The station is over there.
銀行 は どこ です か。
Where is the bank?