Quintuple VS
Synonym Boundary: "それ", "あの人", "あれ", "そのため", "例の"
All represent the core concept "that", but require precise selection.
Japanese Option A
それ
それ (sore)
N5 / CEFR
Japanese Option B
あの人
あのひと (ano hito)
N5 / CEFR
Japanese Option C
あれ
あれ (are)
N5 / CEFR
Japanese Option D
そのため
そのため (sono tame)
N4 / CEFR
Japanese Option E
例の
れいの (reino)
C1 / CEFR
Quintuple VS Nuance Contrast & Social Differences
When expressing "that" in Japanese, you must carefully distinguish between "それ", "あの人", "あれ", "そのため", "例の" based on context.
- それ (それ (sore) - Level: N5): Maps to "that (thing near listener)" and is used when Demonstrative pronoun referring to a thing near the listener, or something previously mentioned. Forms the 'so' series..
- あの人 (あのひと (ano hito) - Level: N5): Maps to "that person; he; she" and is used when A polite way to refer to someone who is not present or who is slightly distant. 「あの方.
- あれ (あれ (are) - Level: N5): Maps to "that (over there)" and is used when 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。.
- そのため (そのため (sono tame) - Level: N4): Maps to "for that reason, therefore" and is used when 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」..
- 例の (れいの (reino) - Level: C1): Maps to "that, the usual" and is used when Essential structural term in CEFR C1 vocabulary syllabus..
Context for "それ"
それはあなたの本ですか。
Is that your book?
Context for "あの人"
あの人はだれですか。
Who is that person?
Context for "あれ"
あれは私の傘です。
That (over there) is my umbrella.
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.
Context for "例の"
私は例のに興味があります。
I am interested in that, the usual.
Synonym Mastery Challenge
Which Japanese word perfectly fits this blank space?
Fill in the blank: " ＿＿＿ はあなたの本ですか。" (Meaning: "Is that your book?")
🎉 Correct Answer!
Remember: "それ" is correct here because it represents "that (thing near listener)" in the context: "Is that your book?".