Mastering Japanese Demonstratives: The こそあど (Ko-So-A-Do) System
Welcome to one of the most useful and rewarding grammar topics in your Edexcel GCSE (9–1) Japanese (1JA0) course! Whether you are listening to a conversation, speaking in your oral exam, reading a short passage, or writing an essay, you will use こそあど言葉 (ko-so-a-do words) constantly.
Don't worry if Japanese word patterns feel overwhelming at first. The wonderful thing about ko-so-a-do is that it is a logical, consistent grid. Once you learn the four basic starting sounds and a few simple endings, you unlock dozens of words for things, places, directions, and qualities!
---1. The Core Golden Rule: The Four Distance Zones
In Japanese, demonstrative words start with a specific syllable that tells you where something is relative to the speaker and the listener:
1. こ (Ko-) = Proximal (Close to the Speaker)
Think of こ as "here with me". It refers to items, places, or directions close to the person talking (e.g. this / here).
2. そ (So-) = Mesial (Close to the Listener)
Think of そ as "there with you". It refers to items, places, or directions close to the person listening (e.g. that near you / there).
3. あ (A-) = Distal (Far from Both)
Think of あ as "over yonder" (far away from both speaker and listener, like a building in the distance).
4. ど (Do-) = Interrogative (Question Word)
Think of ど as "doubt / question". It creates the question words (e.g. which? / where? / what kind of?).
Quick Analogy: Imagine you and a friend are sitting at a table. A pen right in front of your hand is こ (ko). A pen near your friend's hand is そ (so). The clock up on the classroom wall is あ (a). Asking which pen to use is ど (do)!
Key Takeaway: The first syllable (こ・そ・あ・ど) always indicates distance or perspective.
---2. The Complete こそあど Breakdown Table
Let's look at how the starting sounds combine with different word types on the GCSE syllabus:
• Pronouns for Things (Standalone nouns):
- これ (kore) = this one
- それ (sore) = that one near you
- あれ (are) = that one over there
- どれ (dore) = which one?
Rule: These stand alone as nouns. You can attach particles directly to them: これ は、それ を、どれ が.
• Determiners / Pre-noun Adjectivals:
- この (kono) = this...
- その (sono) = that... (near you)
- あの (ano) = that... (over there)
- どの (dono) = which...?
Rule: These must be followed immediately by a noun. For example: この 本 (this book), その 人 (that person), どの 部屋 (which room?).
• Location & Place:
- ここ (koko) = here
- そこ (soko) = there (near you)
- あそこ (asoko) = over there (Notice the irregular spelling: not *あこ!)
- どこ (doko) = where?
Rule: Used with location particles such as に, で, or へ (e.g. ここ に あります — "It is here"; あそこ へ 行きます — "I will go over there").
• Direction / Polite Place & Person:
- こちら / こっち (kochira / kocchi) = this way / this person
- そちら / そっち (sochira / socchi) = that way / that person
- あちら / あっち (achira / acchi) = that way over there / that person over there
- どちら / どっち (dochira / docchi) = which way? / who? / which one of two?
Rule: 〜ちら is formal and polite (e.g. introducing someone: こちら は 田中さん です — "This is Mr/Ms Tanaka"), while 〜っち is informal and colloquial.
• Type / Quality / Manner (Adjectives of Kind):
- こんな (konna) = this kind of / such a...
- そんな (sonna) = that kind of / such a...
- あんな (anna) = that kind of (over there)
- どんな (donna) = what kind of...?
Rule: Connects directly to a noun without extra particles: どんな スポーツ (what kind of sports?), こんな 車 (this kind of car).
• Adverbs of Manner:
- こう (kō) = in this way / like this
- そう (sō) = in that way / like that
- ああ (ā) = in that way over there
- どう (dō) = how? / in what way?
Rule: Modifies verbs or sentences directly: どう 思いますか (What/how do you think?), そう しましょう (Let's do that).
3. Essential GCSE Grammar Rules & Sentence Patterns
A. The Golden Difference: これ vs. この
This is one of the most heavily tested points in Edexcel GCSE Japanese:
• これ (Pronoun): Stands by itself. Followed by particles like は, を, が, or the copula です.
Example: これは ペンです。 (This is a pen.)
• この (Determiner): Must be stuck to a noun like glue.
Example: この ペンは 私のです。 (This pen is mine.)
B. The Question Word Subject Rule: Using が with どれ and どの
When an interrogative word like どれ or a phrase like どの [noun] is the subject of a question, you must mark it with the particle が, never は.
• Correct: どれが あなたの かばんですか。 (Which one is your bag?)
• Incorrect: *どれは あなたの かばんですか。
• Correct: どの 本が おもしろいですか。 (Which book is interesting?)
C. Conversational Shifts (Speaker-to-Listener Perspective)
In Paper 1 (Listening) and Paper 2 (Speaking), pay close attention to who is speaking:
• If Person A asks about something in their own hands: 「これは 何ですか。」 (What is this?)
• Person B must reply with それ because it is near Person A: 「それは 日本語の本です。」 (That is a Japanese book.)
• If an object is far from both people, both use あれ / あの: 「あれは 何ですか。」「あれは 図書館です。」 (What is that over there? / That is the library.)
4. Common Exam Traps to Avoid
1. The "あこ" Mistake:
The place series goes ここ, そこ, あそこ, どこ. Never write *あこ! Remember to include the extra そ.
2. Mixing up どんな and どう:
• Use どんな + Noun: どんな 映画が 好きですか。 (What kind of movies do you like?)
• Use どう + Verb / ですか: 日本の 食べ物は どうですか。 (How is Japanese food?) or どう 行きますか。 (How do you go?).
3. Attaching Nouns to これ:
Never say これ本 or このは. Always remember: これ stands alone; この hugs a noun.
4. Using あの for things the listener holds:
If the examiner is holding a photo during your speaking test, refer to it using その 写真 (that photo near you), not あの 写真!
5. Quick Summary / Revision Checklist
• こ (Ko-): Close to speaker (this / here)
• そ (So-): Close to listener (that / there)
• あ (A-): Far from both (that over there / over yonder)
• ど (Do-): Question (which / where / how)
• 〜れ series: Standalone pronoun (これ、それ、あれ、どれ)
• 〜の series: Must have a noun after it (この本、その人)
• 〜こ series: Location (ここ、そこ、あそこ [irregular!]、どこ)
• 〜ちら / 〜っち series: Direction or polite person reference (こちら)
• 〜んな series: Type/quality + noun (どんな)
• 〜う series: Manner adverb (どう)
• Particle Check: Always mark interrogative subjects with が (どれが / どの [noun] が)!