Japanese word

そこ

Pronunciation

Romajisoko

Meaning

  • pronounthere

Example

えんぴつはそこです。e n pi tsu wa so ko de su

The pencil is there.

Illustration for そこ (there)

More examples

おもちゃはそこです。o mo cha wa so ko de su

The toy is there.

荷物はそこに置いてください。ni motsu wa so ko ni o i te ku da sa i

Please leave the luggage there.

Core concept

Marks a location that is not near the speaker and is clear from the situation or conversation.

Common phrases

  • そこにあるso ko ni a ru

    be there

  • そこに行くso ko ni i ku

    go there

  • そこからso ko ka ra

    from there

Similar words

ここkoko: Marks a location near the speaker.
あそこasoko: Marks a location away from both speakers and clear from the situation.
そちらsochira: Marks a location near the listener or an indicated place in polite speech.
こちらkochira: Refers to a place near the speaker or to a place indicated in polite speech.

Definition in Japanese

話し手のいる所から離れた場所を指し示す語。hana shi te no i ru tokoro ka ra hana re ta ba sho o sa shi shime su go

Word origin

The Japanese place word そこ (soko) is formed from そ (so, "near the listener") and こ (ko, "place"), like ここ (koko) and あそこ (asoko).

Usage tips

  • In conversation, そこ (soko) can point to a place visible to both speakers, such as a spot near the listener or an indicated location.

Opposites

Word lists with this word