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8. Here and There

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すみません、水はどちらですか
Excuse me, where is the water?
水はこちらです
The water is this way
どうぞ
Go ahead
ありがとうございます
Thank you
ここにありますか
Is it here?
いいえ、ここじゃないです
No, not here
そこにあります
It's over there
あ、そこですか
Oh, there?
ありがとう
Thanks
すみません、私の物はどちらですか
Excuse me, where are my things?
あちらにあります
They're over that way
あちらですか
Over that way?
次はあそこにあります
The next one is over there
いいえ、ここじゃないです
No, not here
そこにあります
It's over there
あ、そこですか
Oh, there?
ありがとう
Thanks
あそこですか
Over there?
そちらも大丈夫ですか
Is that way okay too?
ええ、そちらもいいです
Yeah, that way is fine too

Cultural Notes

The こ-そ-あ-ど Pattern

Japanese organizes "here, there, and where" into a neat pattern: こ- words are close to you, そ- words are close to the listener, あ- words are far from both of you, and ど- words are questions. Once you learn this pattern, you can predict dozens of related words — like この, その, あの, どの that you already know.

こちら Is More Than Just "This Way"

You will hear こちら, そちら, and あちら used in shops, restaurants, and offices instead of ここ, そこ, and あそこ. They sound more polite and professional. Staff at a restaurant might say こちらです ("Right this way") when showing you to your seat.

Pointing Is Rude — Use Words Instead

In Japan, pointing at things or people with your finger is considered rude. Instead, people use an open hand to gesture toward something, or simply use location words like あそこ or あちら. If someone asks you どちらですか, gesture with your whole hand rather than pointing.