Meaning
We learnt “これ“（this） and “あれ“（that） here(Internal link). These are demonstrative words, used to point to specific people, objects, or ideas. Today, we’ll explore this in more detail. You can use demonstrative words and ask the price.
There are a few differences between Japanese demonstrative words and English ones. Let’s take a look.
Vocabulary list
| Noun | ||
| これ | kore | this |
| あれ | are | that |
| それ | sore | that |
| かばん | kaban | bag |
| ジャケット | jaketto | jacket |
| スーツケース | sūtsukēsu | suitcase |
| まぐろ | maguro | tuna |
| いか | ika | squid |
| かさ（傘） | kasa | umbrella |
| Adjective | ||
| おいしい（美味しい） | oishī | delicious/tasty |
Other perspective “それ“(Sore)
Following Japanese would be translated into English like below.
これ は わたし の かばん です。
This would be …（This is my bag.)
あれ は わたし の かばん です。
This would be …（That is my bag.)
それ は わたし の かばん です。
…?
In Japanese there is another one, “それ“ , means, “that” or “it,” specifically referring to an object, concept, or person located near the listener rather than the speaker.
So the translation would still be “That is my bag.” But this sentence implies the bag is near the listener.
• これ(this) = near the speaker
• それ (that)= near the listener
• あれ (that)= far from both
Demonstrative Adjective
・これは わたし の ジャケット です。(This is my jacket. )
In this sentence, “これ“（this) is a pronoun.
・この ジャケット は わたし の です。（This jacket is mine.)
In this sentence, “この“（this) is demonstrative adjective, and modifies “ジャケット“（jacket). In English, they are still the same but in Japanese “これ“ will be changed to “この“, “あれ” will be “あの“, “それ” will be “その“.
“いくらですか“（How much)
“いくらですか” means “how much”.
・この かばん は いくら ですか？(How much is this bag?)
（Kono kaban wa ikura desu ka)
To make it simpler,
・これ は いくら ですか？（How much is this?)
(Kore wa ikura desu ka)
Example
・それ は わたし の スーツケース です。（That is my suitcase.)
(Sore wa watashi no sūtsukēsu desu.)
※The suitcase is near the listener rather than the speaker.
・その Tシャツ は いくら ですか。（How much is that T-shirts?)
(Sono tishatsu wa ikura desu ka)
※The shop staff is holding the T-shirt.
・この まぐろ は 美味しい です。（This tuna is delicious.)
(Kono maguro wa oishī desu)
・この いか も 美味しい です。（This squid is also delicious.)
(Kono ika mo oishī desu)
・あの スーツケース と この かばん は わたし の です。（That suit case and this bag are mine.)
(Ano sūtsukēsu to kono kaban wa watashi no desu)
・この 傘 は あなた の ですか？。(Is this umbrella yours?)
(Kono kasa wa anata no desu ka.)
・いいえ、これ では ありません。その 傘 が わたし の です。（No, this is not mine. That umbrella is mine)
(Iie, kore dewa arimasen. Sono kasa ga watashi no desu)
※”My” umbrella is near the listener rather than the speaker.
※「が」 emphasizes “その傘”. It means “THAT umbrella is mine.”
Practice Section
Exercise 1: Translate to Japanese
1. That is my umbrella.
※The listener is holding the umbrella.
2. Is that suitcase yours?
※The listener is standing next to the suitcase.
3. Yes, this suitcase is mine.
Exercise 2: Translate to English
1. このかばんはあなたのですか？
2. いいえ、そのかばんはわたしのです。
3. これはいくらですか？
Summary
• これ / それ / あれ are demonstratives used to point to things.
• これ is near the speaker, それ is near the listener, and あれ is far from both.
• Before a noun, they change to この / その / あの (e.g., このかばん – this bag).
• いくらですか means “How much is it?” and is commonly used when shopping.
Answer
Exercise 1: Translate to Japanese
1. That is my umbrella. → それはわたしの傘です。
※The listener is holding the umbrella.
2. Is that suitcase yours? → そのスーツケースはあなたのですか？
※The listener is standing next to the suitcase.
3. Yes, this suitcase is mine. → はい、このスーツケースはわたしのです。
Exercise 2: Translate to English
1. このかばんはあなたのですか？ → Is this bag yours?
2. いいえ、そのかばんはわたしのです。 → No, that bag is mine.
3. これはいくらですか？ → How much is this?