Synonym Nuance VS
How to say "That" in Japanese
Both words can translate to "that", but which should you choose?
Japanese Option A
あの人
あのひと (ano hito)
N5 / CEFR Syllabus
VS
Japanese Option B
あれ
あれ (are)
N5 / CEFR Syllabus
Nuance Contrast & Translation Difference
When translating "that" into Japanese, you must choose carefully between あの人 and あれ.
In Japanese, あの人 (あのひと (ano hito)) is typically associated with "that person; he; she" (Syllabus Level: N5) and represents A polite way to refer to someone who is not present or who is slightly distant. 「あの方.
On the other hand, あれ (あれ (are)) maps to "that (over there)" (Syllabus Level: N5) and represents 指示詞の一つで、話し手からも聞き手からも遠いものや場所、あるいは以前に話題になったことを指すのに使います。主に名詞の代わりとして使われます。英語の "that" や "that one" に相当します。. A literal translation of "that" can often sound unnatural to native Japanese speakers if mixed up!
Bilingual Context for "あの人"
あの人はだれですか。
Who is that person?
Bilingual Context for "あれ"
あれは私の傘です。
That (over there) is my umbrella.
Nuance Mastery Quiz
Which Japanese word perfectly fits this blank space?
Fill in the blank: " ＿＿＿ はだれですか。" (Meaning: "Who is that person?")
🎉 Correct Answer!
Remember: "あの人" fits here because it means "that person; he; she" in the context of: "Who is that person?". "あれ" represents "that (over there)".