これ
kore[ko̞ɾe̞]
In Japanese, the English phrase "this" is translated as これ (kore).
これ is a pronoun used to refer to an object or item being indicated. It specifically refers to things that are physically close to the speaker.
Meaning: the thing, item, etc. being indicated (pron)
Which one should you use?
There is a distinction between これ and この. Use これ when "this" is the subject or object of a sentence on its own. Use この when "this" is modifying a specific noun directly, such as in "this book".
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
While これ is a pronoun that can stand alone, この must be followed by a noun to mean "this [noun]".
How do you pronounce it?
kore
What mistakes should you avoid?
When you want to say "this book", do not say これ本. Instead, use この本.
Did you know?
- In Japanese, the words for 'this' これ and 'that' それ are part of a three-way system called 'ko-so-a', which also includes あれ for things far from both the speaker and listener.
- While English speakers use 'this' to introduce a new topic, Japanese speakers often use the 'that' version, それ, to refer to something the other person just said.
- The word これ descends from Old Japanese and has related forms in regional dialects such as くり in Okinawan and くるぃ in Northern Amami Ōshima.
Examples in context
- これ誰の本？Whose book is this?This sentence is useful for asking ownership of an object using これ.Tatoeba #217562 by tommy_san, translation #54871 by CK
- これ使って。Use this.This sentence demonstrates using これ as a direct object.Tatoeba #2060548 by bunbuku, translation #1954278 by CK
- これは変だ。This is weird.This sentence shows how to use これ as the subject of a sentence.Tatoeba #2216603 by bunbuku, translation #1898083 by CK
- これは私の本です。This is my book.
- これはおいしいですよ！This is delicious!
- この本は面白いです。This book is interesting.
- 2252 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Kenta and Misaki are looking at a gift in a shop.
- 美咲 Misakiこれ、いいですね。Kore, ii desu ne.This one is nice, isn't it?
- 健太 Kenta本当だ。高いかな。Hontō da. Takai kana.You're right. I wonder if it's expensive.
- 美咲 Misakiこれ、安そうですよ。Kore, yasusō desu yo.This looks cheap.
- 健太 Kentaじゃあ、買おうか。Jaa, kaō ka.Well, shall we buy it?
Sources
- Wiktionary, “this” translations and entries これ, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries これ, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
