Meaning
Points to a place by its distance.
Formation
- They name a place and behave like nouns: ここは教室です
- With motion they take へ or に: そこへ行きます
When to use it
- Core use
- Points to a place by its distance
Examples
13 sentences-
ここは教室です
The classroom is here.
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駅はあそこです
The station is over there.
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ここから駅までどのくらいかかりますか
How long does it take to get from here to the station?
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ここは図書館です
This place is the library.
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そこは駅です
That place near you is the station.
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あそこは公園です
That place over there is the park.
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ここは郵便局です
This place is the post office.
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そこは病院です
That place near you is the hospital.
5 more examples
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あそこは美術館です
That place over there is the art museum.
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ここは喫茶店です
This place is the café.
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そこは海です
That place near you is the sea.
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あそこは学校です
That place over there is the school.
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ここはスーパーです
This place is the supermarket.
Important notes
- ここ・そこ・あそこ name places and behave like nouns: ここは教室です. The polite versions are こちら・そちら・あちら.
Common mistakes
- Choose the particle by the verb, as with any place: ここにいます (existence), ここで食べます (action), ここへ来てください (direction).
Check yourself
Pick the translation of each sentence. The wrong options translate similar patterns, so watch the grammar rather than the words.
Similar grammar
Hear it in podcasts
The pattern appears in these episodes. They open in the app with the transcript and translation.
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