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

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.

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.

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.

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?

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.

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.

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.

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?

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.

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.

じむしょ

jimusho

事務所

office

Example

じむしょではたらきます。

Jimusho de hatarakimasu.

I work in the office.

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.

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.

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.

へや

heya

部屋

room

Example

このへやはひろいです。

Kono heya wa hiroi desu.

This room is spacious.

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.

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.

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.

エスカレーター

esukarētā

escalator

Example

エスカレーターをつかいます。

Esukarētā o tsukaimasu.

I use the escalator.

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?

かいしゃ

kaisha

会社

company

Example

このかいしゃはおおきいです。

Kono kaisha wa ōkii desu.

This company is big.

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.

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.

くつ

kutsu

靴

shoes

Example

あたらしいくつをかいました。

Atarashii kutsu o kaimashita.

I bought new shoes.

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.

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.

たばこ

tabako

tobacco, cigarette

Example

たばこをすいません。

Tabako o suimasen.

I don

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?

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.

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

すみません

sumimasen

Excuse me / I

Example Usage

すみません、道を教えて下さい。

Sumimasen, michi wo oshiete kudasai.

Excuse me, could you tell me the way?

～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).

[～を] 見せて下さい

[~wo] misete kudasai

Please show me [something]

Example Usage

パスポートを見せて下さい。

Pasupooto wo misete kudasai.

Please show me your passport.

じゃ

Well then / So / In that case

Example Usage

じゃ、また明日。

Ja, mata ashita.

Well then, see you tomorrow.

[～を]下さい

[~wo] kudasai

Please give me [something]

Example Usage

水を下さい。

Mizu wo kudasai.

Please give me water.

Kanji

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): ここに来て下さい (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.

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.

Key topics:

Vocabulary

Conversation

Kanji

Grammar Rules

Rule 1: Location words ここ／そこ／あそこ／どこ

Rule 2: Location pattern

Rule 3: Polite greeting for entering/leaving places

Rule 4: Thanking before leaving

Exercises

Question 1

Question 2

Question 3

Question 4

Question 5

Question 6

Question 7

Question 8

Question 9

Question 10

Question 11

Question 12

Question 13

Question 14

Question 15

Question 16

Question 17

Question 18

Question 19

Question 20