means "that" and always has a noun after it:
is "that book". It points at something near the person you are talking to.
It is one of a set of four:
- – this …, near the speaker
- – that …, near the listener
- – that … over there, away from both
- – which …
その or あの
English "that" covers both. is near the listener, and is away from both of you.
。
Is that bag yours, Tanaka?
。
Is that mountain over there Mt. Fuji?
その or それ
stands alone, the way "that one" does.
needs its noun.
Usage notes
These go beyond pointing at a thing you can see.
Something already mentioned
also points back at something that has just come up in the conversation, whether you said it or the other person did. Nothing has to be in sight.
。。
I watched a movie yesterday. That movie was very interesting.
。。
There's a new restaurant near the station. That place is cheap and good.
きごう「、。きごう」きごう「。きごう」
"I bought a book yesterday." "Is that book interesting?"
is for something one of you has just mentioned. For something you both already know from before, the word is
.
。
Where is that restaurant?
The one you just told me about.
。
That restaurant was good, wasn't it?
The one we went to together.
Set expressions
(at that time),
(that day),
(after that).
、。
I was at home at that time.
Lingaku