Japanese word

そちら

Pronunciation

Romajisochira

Meaning

  • pronounyou

Example

そちらは学生ですか。so chi ra wa gaku sei de su ka

Are you a student?

Illustration for そちら (you)

More examples

そちらのお名前を教えていただけますか。so chi ra no o na mae o oshi e te i ta da ke ma su ka

Could you tell me your name?

Core concept

Points to the listener or the direction associated with them, allowing the same word to mean "you" or "that way" in a polite, indirect manner.

Common phrases

  • そちらのお名前so chi ra no o na mae

    your name

  • そちらのご予定so chi ra no go yo tei

    your plans

  • そちらのご都合so chi ra no go tsu gō

    your availability

Similar words

あなたanata: A pronoun for the person being addressed directly.
君kimi: A familiar pronoun for addressing someone, often used toward a junior or close acquaintance.

Definition in Japanese

話し手から見て相手または相手のいる方向を、直接名指しせずに指す代名詞。hana shi te ka ra mi te ai te ma ta wa ai te no i ru hō kō o choku setsu na za shi se zu ni sa su dai mei shi

Word origin

そちら (sochira) developed from そち (sochi), meaning "that direction" or "that side," with ら (ra) as part of the demonstrative form also found in こちら (kochira).

Usage tips

  • In conversation, そちら (sochira) can address the listener politely, while あなた (anata) is more direct and is not always the preferred choice.

Other meanings

  • that waypronoun

Word lists with this word