Speakable Japanese

How to Say "That is" in Japanese: Pointing at Things (Sore wa ... desu)

Hello! In the previous lesson, we learned to talk about things near you (これ). In this lesson, you will be able to point to and name items that are near your conversation partner. Once you understand the difference between 'これ (kore)' and 'それ (sore)', your speech will become much smoother!

🎯 Lesson Goal

Learn to confidently say "That is 〇〇" when pointing to items near your conversation partner! 「それは〇〇です」 (Sore wa 〇〇 desu)

Step 1 Discover

Let's look at how this is used in a real conversation. Notice how they talk about objects near the other person.

👩🏻
Yuki

それはあなたのペンです。

(Sore wa anata no pen desu.)

👨🏻
Kenji

ありがとう。それは素敵なカバンですね。

(Arigatou. Sore wa sutekina kaban desu ne.)

💡

Did you notice?

By adding 'ですね (desu ne)' to the end of a sentence, you can add a nuance of a polite question, like "..., isn't it?", seeking the listener's agreement.

Step 2 The Pattern

Here is the most powerful and useful chunk for pointing at things.

Basic Chunk

それは です。

(Sore wa desu.)

🔑 Key Point: 'これ' vs 'それ'

In Japanese, demonstrative words change depending on who the item is closer to.
これ (kore): Points to an item close to the speaker (you).
それ (sore): Points to an item close to the listener (your conversation partner). Understanding this difference will make your Japanese sound very natural.

Step 3 Pattern Practice

Keep the chunk exactly the same, but swap the words in the blank. Read these out loud!

  • Task 1 That is a book.

    それは 本 です。

    (Sore wa hon desu.)

  • Task 2 That is your ticket.

    それは あなたのチケット です。

    (Sore wa anata no chiketto desu.)

  • Task 3 That is his camera.

    それは 彼のカメラ です。

    (Sore wa kare no kamera desu.)

Step 4 Make It Yours!

Imagine what your conversation partner is holding and create your own sentences. You don't need to memorize all these words!

👉 それは YOUR ITEM です。

Vocabulary Cheat Sheet

Personal Items

  • かばん kaban (bag)
  • スマホ sumaho (smartphone)
  • かぎ kagi (key)
  • さいふ saifu (wallet)
  • とけい tokei (watch)

Other

  • チケット chiketto (ticket)
  • 写真 (しゃしん) shashin (photograph)
  • 地図 (ちず) chizu (map)
  • 新聞 (しんぶん) shinbun (newspaper)
  • 雑誌 (ざっし) zasshi (magazine)

Bonus Go Beyond the Basics

In real life, you'll also need to say "That is NOT..." and speak casually with friends. Here’s a quick guide to leveling up your conversation!

🙅‍♀️ 1. That is NOT... (Negative)

Basic / Formal

それは本 ではありません。

(Sore wa hon dewa arimasen.)

Casual (Friends)

それは本 じゃない。

(Sore wa hon ja nai.)

🤝 2. Friendly & Casual

Dropping "desu"

それは本。

(Sore wa hon.)

With friendly emphasis

それは本 だよ。

(Sore wa hon da yo.)

Summary Lesson Review

Items Near the Listener: Use それは〜です (Sore wa ~ desu) to point to an item close to your conversation partner.

Kore vs Sore: これ (Kore) is for things close to you, and それ (Sore) is for things close to the listener.

Seeking Agreement: Add 「ですね」(desu ne) at the end of a sentence to politely seek the listener's agreement.

Practice Drill

1 / X Polite

Related Lessons & Next Steps