Japanese word

そこら

Pronunciation

Romajisokora

Meaning

  • pronounaround there

Example

その本はそこらにあります。so no hon wa so ko ra ni a ri ma su

The book is around there.

Illustration for そこら (around there)

More examples

鍵はそこらに置いてあります。kagi wa so ko ra ni o i te a ri ma su

The keys have been left around there.

Core concept

Indicates an unspecified area over there, with the focus on the surrounding vicinity rather than a precise location.

Common phrases

  • そこら辺so ko ra hen

    around there

Similar words

そこいらsokoira: A casual expression for an unspecified nearby area whose exact location is not important.

Definition in Japanese

そこを中心とする、はっきり限定しない周辺の場所を指す語。so ko o chū shin to su ru ha kki ri gen tei shi na i shū hen no ba sho o sa su go

Word origin

The native Japanese form そこら (sokora) is formed from そこ (soko, "there") and ら (ra), which adds a sense of an approximate area.

Usage tips

  • In everyday Japanese, そこら (sokora) can sound casual, so speakers often use it when exact location details are unimportant.

Other meanings

  • that areapronoun

Opposites

  • ここらkokoraaround herepronoun

Word lists with this word