Japanese Demonstrative Pronouns Made Simple For Beginners

Demonstrative Pronouns take the place of a noun.

Demonstrative pronouns are used the same way as in other languages, but in Japanese there are some rules that you need to remember.

IMPORTANT: When you want to form a question, you have to use do- (ど). For example:

"hon wa doko desuka" (Where is the book?)

Pronouns for animals and things

There are some pronouns that can replace a noun, but you only can use them when you talk about animals or things.

See the table below.

EXAMPLES:

• This is my book.

• こ れ は 私 の 本 で す

• Kore wa watashi no hon desu

• That is your car

• こ れ は あ な た の 自 動 車 で す

• Are wa anata no jidōsha desu

Pronouns for people

You can use these pronouns to talk about people.

If you use these pronouns, you must use it before the noun that you're talking about. These pronouns are in the table below.

EXAMPLES:

• That bag is yours.

• そ の か ば ん は あ な た の で す

• Sono kaban wa anata no desu

• This car is green.

• こ の 自 動 車 は 緑 で す

• Kono jidōsha wa midori desu. Notice that kono is before the noun jidōsha.

Pronouns for places

You can use these pronouns to talk about a specific place.

See the table below.

EXAMPLES:

• Your mother are here.

• あ な た の お 母 さ ん は こ こ に い る

• Anata no okasan wa koko ni iru

• Where is your house?

• あ な た の 家 は ど こ で す か

• Anata no ie wa dokodesu ka