Japanese word

それ

Pronunciation

Romajisore

Meaning

  • pronounthat

Example

それは本です。so re wa hon de su

That is a book.

Illustration for それ (that)

More examples

それは私のです。so re wa watashi no de su

That is mine.

先生が示した図を見て、それについて話し合います。sen sei ga shime shi ta zu o mi te so re ni tsu i te hana shi a i ma su

After looking at the diagram the teacher showed us, we will discuss it.

Core concept

Picks out something outside the speaker's immediate sphere, including a subject that the conversation has already established.

Common phrases

  • それを使うso re o tsuka u

    use that

  • それを選ぶso re o era bu

    choose that

  • それについてso re ni tsu i te

    about that

Similar words

これkore: Points to something near the speaker or in the speaker's current focus.
あれare: Points to something away from both the speaker and the listener.
こちらkochira: Points politely to something near the speaker or in the speaker's current focus.
あちらachira: Points politely to something away from both the speaker and the listener.

Definition in Japanese

物や事柄を、話し手から離れたもの、または共有された話題として示す語。mono ya koto gara o hana shi te ka ra hana re ta mo no ma ta wa kyō yū sa re ta wa dai to shi te shime su go

Word origin

In それ (sore), そ (so) is the demonstrative base for something away from the speaker, and れ (re) is shared by pronouns such as これ (kore) and あれ (are).

Usage tips

  • The phrase それは (sore wa) often introduces a response about a previously raised matter, while これは (kore wa) presents something in the speaker's current focus.

Other meanings

  • itpronoun

Related words

Word lists with this word