Back To List | Home | Glossary

The basic structure A WA B DESU (A is B) is used throughout this section.

Using Demonstrative Pronouns and Adjectives (KOSOADO words)

near speaker		near listener		far from both		question word
kore kono koko kochira	this one this ~ here this way this person here	sore sono soko sochira	that one that ~ there that way that person	are ano asoko achira   anata	that thing over there that ~ over there over there that way over there that person over there you (informal)	dore dono doko dochira   donata	which one which ~ where which way who who

1. KORE wa hon desu.
THIS is a book.

2. Zasshi wa KORE desu.
The magazine is THIS ONE.

3. Bijutsukan wa ANO TATEMONO desu.
The art museum is THAT BUILDING OVER THERE.

4. Byouin wa ASOKO desu.
The hospital is OVER THERE.

5. KOCHIRA wa Nomura desu.
THIS is Mr. Nomura.

Using Question Words
The DO group of KOSOADO words are all question words.
Other question words include:

nani dare itsu o-ikutsu ikutsu ikura naze doushite ikaga dou donna

what who when how old how many how much why why how how what sort of

**The question word is inserted in the same place as the expected answer.

1. Sore wa NAN desu KA. WHAT is that? 2. Zasshi wa DORE desu KA. WHICH ONE is the magazine? 3. Bijutsukan wa DONO TATEMONO desu KA. WHICH BUILDING is the museum? 4. Byouin wa DOKO desu KA. WHERE is the hospital? 5. Jisho wa DOCHIRA desu KA. WHICH ONE is the dictionary? 6. DONATA desu KA? WHO is (this)? 7. Ano hito wa DARE desu KA? WHO is she?

8. O-tanjoubi wa ITSU desu KA? WHEN is your birthday? 9. O-IKUTSU desu KA? HOW OLD are (you)? 10. Ringo wa IKUTSU desu KA? HOW MANY apples are there? 11. Ano shatsu wa IKURA desu KA? HOW MUCH is that shirt? 12. DOU desu ka? HOW is (it)? 13. DOUSHITE desu ka? WHY is (that)?

VOCABULARY (GOI)
Things		Places
mono doa mado kokuban teeburu tsukue isu denki konsento eakon senpuuki kopii-ki konpyuutaa terebi rajio denwa keitai denwa kasa kaban saifu e shashin kami nooto hon techou kyoukasho sankousho jisho zasshi shinbun megane enpitsu-bako enpitsu boorupen keshi-gomu	thing door window blackboard table desk chair lights electric socket air conditioner electric fan photocopier computer television radio telephone mobile phone umbrella bag wallet picture photograph paper notebook book organizer textbook reference book dictionary magazine newspaper eyeglasses pencil case pencil ballpen eraser	tokoro uchi eki chikatetsu basu-tei takushii-noriba gakkou daigaku kyoushitsu toshokan shokudou taiikukan gakuryou kouen doubutsuen kuukou tatemono kaisha yuubinkyoku bijutsukan byouin biyouin kyoukai o-tera jinja yakusho taishikan mise kissaten depaato yaoya hon-ya bumbougu-ya kusuri-ya	place home train station subway bus stop taxi stand school university classroom library cafeteria gymnasium dormitory park zoo airport building office post office art museum hospital beauty parlor church temple shrine government office embassy store coffee shop department store grocery store bookstore stationery shop pharmacy

Posted: 2001-04-01 (Sun)