Lesson 3: Places and Locations
Learn names of facilities (schools, banks, etc.) and how to say where something is using ここ・そこ・あそこ and location expressions.
This Lesson focuses on referring to places and locations, enabling you to ask for and give directions about where people or things are. You will also learn to ask for and state prices.
Key topics:
- ・Location Demonstratives: ここ ・ そこ ・ あそこ (here ・ there ・ over there)
- ・Question word: どこ (where)
- ・Vocabulary for places (きょうしつ, ロビー, かいだん)
- ・Asking about and stating prices using いくら
- ・Polite location expressions
- ・Building facilities and directions
Vocabulary
1
ここ
koko
-
here, this place
Example
ここはきょうしつです.
Koko wa kyōshitsu desu.
This is a classroom.
2
そこ
soko
-
there, that place near you
Example
そこはしょくどうです.
Soko wa shokudō desu.
That is the dining hall.
3
あそこ
asoko
-
that place over there
Example
あそこはじむしょです.
Asoko wa jimusho desu.
That over there is the office.
4
どこ
doko
-
where, what place
Example
トイレはどこですか.
Toire wa doko desu ka?
Where is the toilet?
5
こちら
kochira
-
this way, this place (polite)
Example
こちらはかいぎしつです.
Kochira wa kaigishitsu desu.
This is the conference room.
6
そちら
sochira
-
that way, that place near you (polite)
Example
そちらはうけつけです.
Sochira wa uketsuke desu.
That is the reception desk.
7
あちら
achira
-
that way, that place over there (polite)
Example
あちらがロビーです.
Achira ga robī desu.
That over there is the lobby.
8
どちら
dochira
-
which way, where (polite)
Example
エレベーターはどちらですか.
Erebētā wa dochira desu ka?
Where is the elevator?
9
きょうしつ
kyōshitsu
教室
classroom
Example
きょうしつにがくせいがいます.
Kyōshitsu ni gakusei ga imasu.
There are students in the classroom.
10
しょくどう
shokudō
食堂
dining hall, canteen
Example
しょくどうでばんごはんをたべます.
Shokudō de bangohan o tabemasu.
I eat dinner in the dining hall.
11
じむしょ
jimusho
事務所
office
Example
じむしつでしごとをします.
Jimushitsu de shigoto o shimasu.
I work in the office.
12
かいぎしつ
kaigishitsu
会議室
conference room, assembly room
Example
かいぎしつでかいぎがあります.
Kaigishitsu de kaigi ga arimasu.
There is a meeting in the conference room.
13
うけつけ
uketsuke
受付
reception desk
Example
うけつけででんわをします.
Uketsuke de denwa o shimasu.
I make a phone call at the reception desk.
14
ロビー
robī
-
lobby
Example
ロビーでともだちをまちます.
Robī de tomodachi o machimasu.
I wait for my friend in the lobby.
15
へや
heya
部屋
room
Example
これはへやです.
Kore wa heya desu.
This is a room.
16
トイレ
toire
-
toilet, rest room
Example
トイレはあちらです.
Toire wa achira desu.
The toilet is over there.
17
かいだん
kaidan
階段
staircase
Example
かいだんをのぼります.
Kaidan o noborimasu.
I go up the staircase.
18
エレベーター
erebētā
-
elevator, lift
Example
エレベーターでいきます.
Erebētā de ikimasu.
I go by elevator.
19
エスカレーター
esukarētā
-
escalator
Example
エスカレーターを つかってください.
Esukareetaa o tsukatte kudasai.
Please use the escalator.
20
おくに
okuni
お国
country (polite)
Example
あなたのおくにはどこですか.
Anata no okuni wa doko desu ka?
Where is your country?
21
かいしゃ
kaisha
会社
company
Example
かいしゃはどちらですか.
Kaisha wa dochira desu ka.
Where is your company?
22
うち
uchi
-
house, home
Example
わたしのうちはちいさいです.
Watashi no uchi wa chiisai desu.
My house is small.
23
でんわ
denwa
電話
telephone, telephone call
Example
でんわでりょうしんとはなします.
Denwa de ryōshin to hanashimasu.
I talk with my parents on the phone.
24
くつ
kutsu
靴
shoes
Example
あたらしいくつが ほしいんですが
Atarashii kutsu ga hoshiin desu ga.
I want new shoes.
25
ネクタイ
nekutai
-
necktie
Example
このネクタイはあおいです.
Kono nekutai wa aoi desu.
This necktie is blue.
26
ワイン
wain
-
wine
Example
あかいワインがすきです.
Akai wain ga suki desu.
I like red wine.
27
たばこ
tabako
-
tobacco, cigarette
Example
たばこをすいません.
Tabako o suimasen.
I don
28
うりば
uriba
売り場
department, counter (in a department store)
Example
くつうりばはなんかいですか.
Kutsu uriba wa nankai desu ka?
What floor is the shoe department?
29
ちか
chika
地下
basement
Example
ちかにスーパーがあります.
Chika ni sūpā ga arimasu.
There is a supermarket in the basement.
30
なんがい
nankai
何階
what floor
Example
うけつけはなんがいですか.
Uketsuke wa nankai desu ka?
What floor is the reception desk?
Conversation
1
すみません
sumimasen
Excuse me / I
Example Usage
すみません、道を教えてください.
Sumimasen, michi wo oshiete kudasai.
Excuse me, could you tell me the way?
2
__ でございます
de gozaimasu
To be (very polite form of です)
Example Usage
私は田中でございます.
Watashi wa Tanaka de gozaimasu.
I am Tanaka (very polite).
3
__ を見せてください
__ wo misete kudasai
Please show me [something]
Example Usage
パスポートを見せてください.
Pasupooto wo misete kudasai.
Please show me your passport.
4
じゃ
ja
Well then / So / In that case
Example Usage
じゃ、また明日.
Ja, mata ashita.
Well then, see you tomorrow.
5
__ をください
__ wo kudasai
Please give me [something]
Example Usage
水をください.
Mizu wo kudasai.
Please give me water.
Grammar Rules
Rule 1: Location words ここ／そこ／あそこ／どこ
Structure: ここ (here, near me) | そこ (there, near you) | あそこ (over there, away from both) | どこ (where?)
Use these location demonstratives to indicate places based on distance. ここ refers to the speaker
How to use: Place the location word (ここ, そこ, あそこ, どこ) as the predicate after は. For example: トイレはどこですか (Where is the toilet?). To answer: トイレはあそこです (The toilet is over there). どこ is always used with ですか to ask a question. These words are nouns, so they take particles like に (to) or へ (toward): ここに来てください (Please come here).
💡 Pro Tip: For polite speech, use こちら, そちら, あちら, どちら. These are more formal and also used for people (どちら様
Examples
といれはどこですか.
Toire wa doko desu ka?
→ Where is the toilet?
わたしのいえはあそこです.あなたのしごとはここですか.
Watashi no ie wa asoko desu. Anata no shigoto wa koko desu ka?
→ My house is over there. Is your workplace here?
Rule 2: Location pattern
Structure: [Place (building/room)] は [Location word or place noun] です
Use this pattern to state where a place or object is located. The topic (what you are talking about) is marked by は, and the location (where it is) is the predicate. This is the most basic way to give directions or describe positions.
How to use: Place the place name (e.g., ぎんこう
💡 Pro Tip: To describe relative location (next to, behind, in front of), use location nouns: となり (next to), うしろ (behind), まえ (in front of), なか (inside), そと (outside). These are used with の: ぎんこうはえきのとなりです (The bank is next to the station). For existence (there is/are), use あります/います instead of です.
Examples
ぎんこうはそこです.
Ginkō wa soko desu.
→ The bank is there.
としょかんはこうえんのとなりです.
Toshokan wa kōen no tonari desu.
→ The library is next to the park.
Rule 3: Polite greeting for entering/leaving places
Structure: おじゃまします (entering a home) | しつれいします (entering/leaving an office or formal place)
Use おじゃまします (literally
How to use: Say おじゃまします as you step into someone
💡 Pro Tip: When entering a shop or restaurant, you may hear いらっしゃいませ (welcome). As a customer, you don
Examples
おじゃまします.
Ojama shimasu.
→ Excuse me for disturbing you. (entering a home)
しつれいします. (entering an office) / しつれいします. (leaving an office)
Shitsurei shimasu.
→ Excuse me for interrupting. / Goodbye (formal).
Rule 4: Thanking before leaving
Structure: どうもありがとうございました
Use どうもありがとうございました to thank someone for their help or service when you are leaving a place. The past tense (ございました) implies gratitude for something that has just been completed. This is more appropriate than present tense (ございます) when the interaction is over.
How to use: Say this phrase when leaving a shop, restaurant, office, or after receiving a service. The host may respond with どういたしまして (you
💡 Pro Tip: Use ありがとうございました for past favors or completed interactions. Use ありがとうございます for ongoing or future help (e.g., while receiving change at a register). When leaving a teacher
Examples
どうもありがとうございました.
Dōmo arigatō gozaimashita.
→ Thank you very much (for everything you did).
先生、今日はありがとうございました.
Sensei, kyō wa arigatō gozaimashita.
→ Thank you very much for today, teacher.
Exercises
Question 1
Choose the correct word particle:
トイレは______ですか.
Question 2
あなたのしごとは______ですか.
Question 3
What does
Question 4
ぎんこうは______です.
Question 5
としょかんはこうえんの______です.
Question 6
What do you say when entering someone
______します.
Question 7
When entering a teacher
Question 8
Complete the phrase to thank someone for everything after a visit.
どうもありがとう______.
Question 9
Which location word means
Question 10
Complete the question meaning
えきは______ですか.
Question 11
Which is the more polite version of そこ?
Question 12
ぎんこうはえきの______です.
Question 13
What do you say when leaving someone
Question 14
おてあらいは______です.
Question 15
When leaving a shop after buying something, which is more appropriate?
Question 16
ゆうびんきょくはとしょかんの______です.
Question 17
When leaving a formal office, you say:
Question 18
かいぎはあのビルの______です.
Question 19
If you are pointing to a location that is far from both you and the listener, which word do you use?
Question 20
Complete the phrase to thank your teacher after class.
せんせい、きょうはありがとう______.