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
そちら
そちら (sochira)
N5 / CEFR Syllabus
Nuance Contrast & Translation Difference
When translating "that" into Japanese, you must choose carefully between あの人 and そちら.
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, そちら (そちら (sochira)) maps to "that way, that place; that person (polite)" (Syllabus Level: N5) and represents Polite equivalent of それ. 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 "そちら"
そちらの天気はどうですか。 / 彼はそちらにいますか。
How is the weather there (near you)? / Is he over there (near you)?
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?". "そちら" represents "that way, that place; that person (polite)".