Japanese Demonstrative Expression
そ and あ -
Intermediate Lessons: 32

You will learn about the Japanese Demonstrative Expression using そ (so) and あ (a) in this lesson.

If you can still remember, Japanese demonstrative pronouns and demonstrative adjectives were introduced in basic lesson 4 where you learned about これ (kore) それ (sore) あれ (are) / この (kono) その (sono) あの (ano) / ここ (koko) そこ (soko) あそこ (asoko).

In daily conversations, we often refer to something we have mentioned in our previous sentences. Depending on situations, you'll use either そ (so) or あ (a) to refer to that "something".

When to use Japanese Demonstrative Expression with そ (so)

When only the speaker or the listener knows about the topic, "そ"-series of words 「それ (sore) その (sono) そこ (soko), etc」 are used to point out that topic. For example...

• A: 昨日浅草へ行きました。
  kinou asakusa e ikimashita
  Meaning: I went to Asakusa yesterday.
  
  B: そこはどんな所ですか。
  soko wa donna tokoro desu ka
  Meaning: What kind of place is that?

In the above example, B doesn't know what or where the place 浅草 Asakusa (where A went to yesterday) is. Therefore B uses the "そ"-series word そこ (soko) to refer to that place.

• A: 私は昨夜一風堂で晩御飯を食べました。
  watashi wa yuube ippuudou de bangohan wo tabemashita
  Meaning: I ate my dinner at Ippudo yesterday night.
  
  B: そこは日本のレストランですか。
  soko wa nihon no resutoran desu ka
  Meaning: Is that place a Japanese restaurant?

Similarly in the above example, although B knows that 一風堂 Ippudo is a place for eating, he doesn't know what or where the place is. Therefore B uses そこ (soko) to refer to that place.

• A: 土曜日に鈴木さんに会う予定です。
  doyoubi ni suzuki san ni au yotei desu
  Meaning: I am going to meet Ms Suzuki on Saturday.
  
  B: その人はあなたの同僚ですか。
  sono hito wa anata no douryou desu ka
  Meaning: Is that person your colleague?

B doesn't know Ms Suzuki, whom A is going to meet on Saturday. Therefore B uses the "そ"-series word その (sono) to refer to that person.

• A: 東京でうなじゅうを食べました。
  toukyou de unajuu wo tabemashita
  Meaning: I ate unaju in Tokyo.
  
  B: それはどんな食べ物ですか。
  sore wa donna tabemono desu ka
  Meaning: What kind of food is that?

Although B knows that うなじゅう (unajuu) is a type of food, he doesn't know exactly what kind of food it is. Therefore B uses the "そ"-series word それ (sore) to point out the food in his question to A.

When to use Japanese Demonstrative Expression with あ (a)

On the other hand, "あ"-series of words 「あれ (are) あの (ano) あそこ (asoko), etc」 are used to refer to something/someone/somewhere that both the speaker and the listener have knowledge of.

Let's use the same four examples above so that you can see the difference between using そ (so) and あ (a).

• A: 昨日浅草へ行きました。
  kinou asakusa e ikimashita
  Meaning: I went to Asakusa yesterday.
  
  B: あそこに行ったことがあります。
  asoko ni itta koto ga arimasu
  Meaning: I have been to that place.

In this case, B also knows the place 浅草 Asakusa and says that he has been there before. Therefore he can use the "あ"-series of word あそこ (asoko) to refer to that place.

• A: 私は昨夜一風堂で晩御飯を食べました。
  watashi wa yuube ippuudou de bangohan wo tabemashita
  Meaning: I ate my dinner at Ippudo yesterday night.
  
  B: あそこはいいレストランですね。私もよく行きます。
  asoko wa ii resutoran desu ne. watashi mo yoku ikimasu
  Meaning: That place is a nice restaurant. I often go there too.

Similarly, in the above example, B also knows the restaurant 一風堂 Ippudo and says that he often go there too. Therefore he uses あそこ (asoko) to refer to the restaurant.

• A: 土曜日に鈴木さんに会う予定です。
  doyoubi ni suzuki san ni au yotei desu
  Meaning: I am going to meet Ms Suzuki on Saturday.
  
  B: あの人はきれいですね。
  ano hito wa kirei desu ne
  Meaning: That person is beautiful.

B also knows about the person (Ms Suzuki), whom A is going to meet on Saturday. Therefore he can use the "あ"-series of word あの (ano) to comment on that same person.

• A: 東京でうなじゅうを食べました。
  toukyou de unajuu wo tabemashita
  Meaning: I ate unaju in Tokyo.
  
  B: 羨ましい。あれは本当に美味しいですね。
  urayamashii. are wa hontou ni oishii desu ne
  Meaning: I am so envious of you. That is really delicious.

B also knows the food うなじゅう (unajuu) which A has eaten in Tokyo. Therefore he can use the "あ"-series of word あれ (are) to refer to the food.

[鰻重 (unajuu) is a Japanese dish consists of steamed white rice topped with eel or 鰻 (unagi) grilled with sweet Teriyaki sauce, and served in a lacquered food box called 重箱 (juubako)]

Summary

In summary, the Japanese demonstrative expression using そ (so) is used when only one party (speaker or listener) knows the topic.

When both the speaker and listener have knowledge of the topic, the Japanese demonstrative expression using あ (a) is used instead.

Related Page

Basic Lesson 4: Japanese Demonstrative Pronouns and Adjectives.

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