こちら
kochira[ko̞t͡ɕiɾa̠]
The phrase "this way" in Japanese is こちら (kochira).
こちら is used to indicate a direction or to guide someone toward a specific place. It is also used in the specific phrase こちらこそ, which means "it is I" or "likewise" when responding to a greeting or compliment.
What does it mean word for word?
The word is a combination of the demonstrative ko- (this) and chira (direction/side).
Which one should you use?
こちら is the polite version of the word. For a casual, colloquial version used with friends or family, you can use こっち. こちらへ is a formal way to say 'this way' and is suitable for directing someone or when accompanying someone to a specific place.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
こちらにお願いします is a polite way to indicate "this way" and is widely used in professional settings and customer service encounters. In contrast, こっちへ is an informal way to say "this way".
How does it change in a sentence?
Adding the particle へ or に to こちら indicates the direction or destination of "this way".
How do you pronounce it?
kochira
Did you know?
- On the telephone, Japanese speakers use こちら to identify themselves, effectively saying 'this is [name] speaking'.
- In many formal Japanese service industries, such as high-end hotels, staff will use こちら while gesturing with an open palm toward a direction. They rarely point with a single finger, as that is considered rude.
- Japanese has a set of four directional words based on the speaker and listener's position, and こちら is the first in this 'ko-so-a-do' system.
Examples in context
- こちらにお願いします。Will you step this way, please?This sentence is useful for requesting someone to step a certain way using こちら.Tatoeba #10778092 by bunbuku, translation #38587 by CK
- お手洗いはこちらです。The bathroom is this way.This sentence is useful for stating that the bathroom is in a certain direction using こちら.Tatoeba #10901763 by small_snow, translation #12305313 by Miktsoanit
- 顔をこちらへ向けなさい。Turn your face this way.This sentence is useful for instructing someone to turn their face in a specific direction using こちら.Tatoeba #183635 by small_snow, translation #20759 by CK
- こちらへお進みください。Please proceed this way.
- こっちへ行こう！Let's go this way!
- こっちにおいでよ！Come this way!
- 6 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Hiyori is showing Hiroto the way to a meeting room.
- 陽葵 Himari会議室はこちらです。Kaigishitsu wa kochira desu.The meeting room is this way.
- 大翔 Hirotoありがとうございます。Arigatou gozaimasu.Thank you very much.
- 陽葵 Himariこちらへどうぞ。Kochira e douzo.Please come this way.
- 大翔 Hirotoわかりました。Wakarimashita.I understand.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry こちら, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
