Quintuple VS
Synonym Boundary: "それ", "あれ", "あちら", "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
あれ
あれ (are)
N5 / CEFR
Japanese Option C
あちら
あちら (achira)
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", "あれ", "あちら", "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。.
- あちら (あちら (achira) - Level: N5): Maps to "that way, that place; that person (polite, far from both)" and is used when Polite equivalent of あれ.
- 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 "あれ"
あれは私の傘です。
That (over there) is my umbrella.
Context for "あちら"
あちらの建物が博物館です。 / あちらの方が部長です。
That building over there is the museum. / That person over there is the department manager.
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?".