これ、それ、あれ、どれ

These are demonstrative pronouns used in Japanese to refer to objects or things based on their relative location to the speaker and listener.

これ (this): Refers to an object near the speaker.

それ (that): Refers to an object near the listener or something already mentioned in the conversation.

あれ (that over there): Refers to an object far from both the speaker and the listener.

どれ (which one): Used when asking about a specific item from multiple options.

Abstract objects

These pronouns can also be used to refer to abstract or intangible things, such as ideas, emotions, events, or previously mentioned concepts. The usage is determined by context:

これ (this): Refers to something abstract near the speaker or something they have just mentioned.

それ (that): Refers to an abstract object near the listener or something already mentioned in the conversation.

あれ (that over there): Refers to an abstract concept or event distant in time or context from both speaker and listener.

どれ (which one): Refers to an abstract choice or concept among multiple options.

それ vs あれ

The difference between それ and あれ is based on distance and perspective.

それ is used for things that are:

• Close to the listener
• Already part of the conversation
• Not physically far from either person

あれ is used for things that are:

• Far from both the speaker and the listener
• Visually or mentally “over there”
• Outside the immediate conversation space

This distinction is about how the speaker views the situation, not about physical distance.

In these examples, それ feels natural because the object is associated with the listener.

Here, あれ is used because the objects are distant from both people.

それ can also refer to something mentioned earlier in the conversation, even if it is not physically present.

In these cases, それ points back to shared information rather than a physical object.