ここ・そこ・あそこ・どこ – Talking About Places in Japanese [JLPT N5]

Quick Summary

• Meaning: ここ (koko) = here, そこ (soko) = there (near you), あそこ (asoko) = over there (far from both), どこ (doko) = where?
• How to Use: Use them as place words to point to locations, just like “here” and “there” in English.

Example:

• ここは宇宙人のカフェです。
• Koko wa uchuujin no kafe desu.
• Here is an aliens’ café.

Overview

When you talk about places in Japanese, you don’t always want to say the full name. Sometimes you just want to say “here,” “there,” or ask “where?”. That is exactly what ここ (koko), そこ (soko), あそこ (asoko), and どこ (doko) do.

These four words are all about distance from the speaker and listener:

• ここ (koko) – “here”: A place close to the speaker (the person talking).
• そこ (soko) – “there”: A place close to the listener (the person you are talking to), but not the speaker.
• あそこ (asoko) – “over there”: A place far from both speaker and listener, but still visible or known.
• どこ (doko) – “where?”: Used to ask about a place.

They are used as place words (Place), and often go with particles like は, が, or に. You can use them:

• To say where you are: ― ここは静かです (koko wa shizuka desu, it’s quiet here).
• To say where something is: ― ロボットはあそこです (robotto wa asoko desu, the robot is over there).
• To ask for a place: ― トイレはどこですか (toire wa doko desu ka, where is the toilet?).

Unlike English, Japanese is very clear about “near me,” “near you,” and “far from both.” That is why there are three different “there” words: ここ, そこ, and あそこ. Once you feel this distance idea, these words become very natural and easy to use.

Let’s look at how to build simple sentences with them.

Structure / Formation

Basic Patterns

ここ, そこ, あそこ, and どこ are used like nouns for places. You can think of them as a special kind of Place word.

• Place は N です ― ここはNです。 (Here is N.)
  ― そこはNです。 (There (near you) is N.)
  ― あそこはNです。 (Over there is N.)
• N は Place に あります / います ― Noun (thing/place) は Place に あります。 (Non-living thing is in/at Place.)
  ― Noun (person/animal) は Place に います。 (Living thing is in/at Place.)
• N は どこ ですか ― N is where?
• N は Place です ― N is at Place. (Simple way, often in conversation)

Here, Place can be:

• ここ (koko, here)
• そこ (soko, there near you)
• あそこ (asoko, over there)
• どこ (doko, where)

Distance and Who It’s Near

The most important point is whose side the place is on:

• ここ: near me (the speaker).
• そこ: near you (the listener).
• あそこ: far from both of us.

Imagine you and your friend in a room:

• You stand next to a dancing panda. For you it is: ― ここ (here).
• The panda moves next to your friend. Now: ― For you: そこ (there near you).
• The panda goes to the door, far away. Now: ― For both of you: あそこ (over there).

Example: You and your friend are talking on the phone. Your friend’s dog is next to your friend, not next to you.

• 犬はそこですか。
• Inu wa soko desu ka.
• Is the dog there (near you)?

Using ここ・そこ・あそこ with「は N です」

A very common beginner pattern is:

• Place は N です

This says “Place is N.” You can use it to describe what “here/there” is.

Pattern examples:

• ここは N です。 (Here is N.)
• そこは N です。 (There (near you) is N.)
• あそこは N です。 (Over there is N.)

Example:

• あそこはおばあさんのゲームセンターです。
• Asoko wa obaasan no geemu sentaa desu.
• Over there is Grandma’s game center.

Using ここ・そこ・あそこ with あります / います

To say something exists in a place, or is located there, use:

• N (thing) は Place に あります。
• N (person/animal) は Place に います。

Remember:

• あります (arimasu): for non-living things and places (books, keys, chairs, parks).
• います (imasu): for living things (people, animals, monsters, aliens).

Pattern examples:

• 本はここにあります。 (The book is here.)
• 先生はそこにいます。 (The teacher is there near you.)
• 猫はあそこにいます。 (The cat is over there.)

Example:

• 社長はここにいません。あそこにいます。
• Shachou wa koko ni imasen. Asoko ni imasu.
• The company president is not here. (They are) over there.

Asking “Where?” with どこ

To ask about the place, replace ここ / そこ / あそこ with どこ (doko, where).

• N は どこ ですか。
• N は どこ に ありますか。 (for things)
• N は どこ に いますか。 (for people/animals)

You will often hear the simple pattern N は どこ ですか in daily conversation.

Example:

• 私の恐竜はどこですか。
• Watashi no kyouryuu wa doko desu ka.
• Where is my dinosaur?

Mini Pattern Table

Function	Pattern	Example (JP)	Romaji	English
Say “Here is N.”	ここ は N です	ここは図書館です。	Koko wa toshokan desu.	Here is the library.
Say “N is there (near you).”	N は そこ です / に あります	リモコンはそこです。	Rimokon wa soko desu.	The remote is there (near you).
Say “N is over there.”	N は あそこ です / に あります	バス停はあそこです。	Basutei wa asoko desu.	The bus stop is over there.
Ask “Where is N?”	N は どこ ですか	先生はどこですか。	Sensei wa doko desu ka.	Where is the teacher?

Usage Tips

To keep it simple when you speak:

• Use ここ when you could point to your own feet.
• Use そこ when you could point to the other person.
• Use あそこ when you need to stretch your arm and point into the distance.
• Use どこ when you don’t know the place and want to ask.

Example combining several words:

• ここは静かですが、あそこはゾンビのパーティーです。
• Koko wa shizuka desu ga, asoko wa zonbi no paatii desu.
• It’s quiet here, but over there is a zombie party.

Example Sentences

• ここは忍者のジムです。
• Koko wa ninja no jimu desu.
• Here is a ninja gym.

• リモコンはそこですか。それとも宇宙ですか。
• Rimokon wa soko desu ka. Soretomo uchuu desu ka.
• Is the remote there by you, or is it in space?

• あそこに巨大なパンダがいます。
• Asoko ni kyodai na panda ga imasu.
• Over there is a giant panda.

• トイレはどこですか。ここは迷路みたいです。
• Toire wa doko desu ka. Koko wa meiro mitai desu.
• Where is the toilet? It’s like a maze here.

• 先生、ここは教室ですか。それともそこが教室で、ここは宇宙船ですか。
• Sensei, koko wa kyoushitsu desu ka. Soretomo soko ga kyoushitsu de, koko wa uchuusen desu ka.
• Teacher, is here the classroom? Or is there the classroom, and here is a spaceship?

Quick Practice

(Answers and explanations are right under this section.)

Multiple-Choice

1. Choose the best sentence: “The toilet is over there.”

• A. トイレはここです。(Toire wa koko desu.)
• B. トイレはそこです。(Toire wa soko desu.)
• C. トイレはあそこです。(Toire wa asoko desu.)
• D. トイレはどこです。(Toire wa doko desu.)

2. You are on the phone. Your friend asks: “Where is my robot?” What is a natural answer from you, if the robot is near your friend (not near you)?

• A. ロボットはここにいます。(Robotto wa koko ni imasu.)
• B. ロボットはそこにいます。(Robotto wa soko ni imasu.)
• C. ロボットはあそこにいます。(Robotto wa asoko ni imasu.)
• D. ロボットはロボットといます。(Robotto wa robotto to imasu.)

3. Choose the correct question: “Where is the magic key?”

• A. まほうのカギはどこですか。(Mahou no kagi wa doko desu ka.)
• B. まほうのカギはここですか。(Mahou no kagi wa koko desu ka.)
• C. まほうのカギはそこや。(Mahou no kagi wa soko ya.)
• D. まほうのカギはあそこと。(Mahou no kagi wa asoko to.)

4. You are standing in a strange library. Choose the best sentence: “Here is a ghost café.”

• A. ここはゴーストカフェです。(Koko wa goosuto kafe desu.)
• B. そこはゴーストカフェです。(Soko wa goosuto kafe desu.)
• C. あそこはゴーストカフェでした。(Asoko wa goosuto kafe deshita.)
• D. こことゴーストカフェです。(Koko to goosuto kafe desu.)

5. Choose the correct sentence to say “The cat is here,” using あります / います correctly.

• A. 猫はここにあります。(Neko wa koko ni arimasu.)
• B. 猫はここにいます。(Neko wa koko ni imasu.)
• C. 猫はここですに。(Neko wa koko desu ni.)
• D. 猫はどこにでも。(Neko wa doko ni demo.)

Spot-the-Error

6. One of these sentences has an incorrect use of ここ・そこ・あそこ・どこ. Which one is wrong?

• A. ここはロボットの会社です。(Koko wa robotto no kaisha desu.)
• B. 先生はあそこにいます。(Sensei wa asoko ni imasu.)
• C. トイレはどこです。(Toire wa doko desu.)

7. One of these sentences has a mistake with particles around ここ・そこ・あそこ・どこ. Which one is wrong?

• A. 本はそこにあります。(Hon wa soko ni arimasu.)
• B. 私のスマホはどこですか。(Watashi no sumaho wa doko desu ka.)
• C. パンダはここをいます。(Panda wa koko o imasu.)

Translation

8. Translate into Japanese: “Where is Grandpa’s idol concert?” (Use どこ)

9. Translate into Japanese: “The dragon is over there.” (Use あそこ)

10. Translate into Japanese: “My homework is here.” (Use ここ)

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Answers and Explanations

1. トイレはあそこです。(Toire wa asoko desu.) — “Over there” is あそこ, for a place far from both speaker and listener.
2. ロボットはそこにいます。(Robotto wa soko ni imasu.) — そこ is “there near you,” which fits because the robot is by your friend.
3. まほうのカギはどこですか。(Mahou no kagi wa doko desu ka.) — どこ is used to ask “where,” and ですか makes a polite question.
4. ここはゴーストカフェです。(Koko wa goosuto kafe desu.) — You are in the place, so you use ここ “here” plus は N です.
5. 猫はここにいます。(Neko wa koko ni imasu.) — います is for living things like animals, and に marks the place ここ.
6. トイレはどこです。(Toire wa doko desu.) — A question needs か, so it should be トイレはどこですか; the others use ここ / あそこ correctly.
7. パンダはここをいます。(Panda wa koko o imasu.) — The place needs に, not を, so it should be パンダはここにいます; the other sentences use に and どこ correctly.
8. おじいさんのアイドルコンサートはどこですか。(Ojiisan no aidoru konsaato wa doko desu ka.) — どこ asks “where,” and は … ですか is the basic pattern for “Where is N?”.
9. ドラゴンはあそこにいます。(Doragon wa asoko ni imasu.) — Use あそこ for “over there” and います for a living thing like a dragon.
10. 私の宿題はここにあります。(Watashi no shukudai wa koko ni arimasu.) — Homework is a thing, so あります is used, and ここに marks “here” as the place.