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
そのため
そのため (sono tame)
N4 / CEFR Syllabus
Nuance Contrast & Translation Difference
When translating "that" into Japanese, you must choose carefully between あの人 and そのため.
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, そのため (そのため (sono tame)) maps to "for that reason, therefore" (Syllabus Level: N4) and represents A conjunction used to indicate a cause-and-effect relationship, where the preceding statement is the reason for the following one. More formal than 「だから」.. 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 "そのため"
昨日は雨が降った。そのため、運動会は中止になった。
It rained yesterday. For that reason, the sports day was cancelled.
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?". "そのため" represents "for that reason, therefore".