Japanese word

そば

Pronunciation

Romajisoba

Meaning

  • nounnear

Example

駅のそばに店があります。eki no so ba ni mise ga a ri ma su

There is a shop near the station.

Illustration for そば (near)

More examples

学校のそばで友だちと遊びます。gak kō no so ba de tomo da chi to aso bi ma su

I play with my friends near the school.

猫が母のそばで眠っています。neko ga haha no so ba de nemu tte i ma su

The cat is sleeping beside my mother.

Core concept

The noun そば (soba, "side") expresses closeness by locating someone or something at another person's or thing's side.

Common phrases

  • 駅のそばeki no so ba

    near the station

  • 家のそばie no so ba

    near the house

  • そばにいるso ba ni i ru

    be nearby

Similar words

近くchikaku: A place or position that is not far from a person or thing.
隣tonari: A person or thing directly next to another person or thing.
付近fukin: The area around a particular place or point.

Definition in Japanese

人や物のすぐ近くにある場所。hito ya mono no su gu chika ku ni a ru ba sho

Word origin

The native Japanese noun そば (soba, "side") has the related written forms 側 (soba, "side") and 傍 (soba, "side"), linking the idea of a side with a place close to someone or something.

Usage tips

  • In conversation, そば (soba) can also mean buckwheat noodles, so context distinguishes the location meaning from the food name.

Other meanings

  • besidenoun

Opposites

Word lists with this word