Conversational Japanese Quiz: Pronouns And Reference Words
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Pronouns And Reference WordsQuestion 1 of 10

A: 昨日買ったかばん、見せてくれない？ B:  ？ちょっと待って、今持ってきます。

Speaker B has not yet seen the bag and is seeking confirmation about which bag Speaker A is referring to. The bag was introduced as a topic by Speaker A and is not currently visible to either speaker. Which response word is most appropriate in the blank?

これ
それ
あれ
どれ
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Conversational Japanese Quiz

Conversational Japanese Quiz: Pronouns And Reference Words

Practice Pronouns And Reference Words in Conversational Japanese with focused quiz questions that help you check what you know, review explanations, and build confidence with test-style prompts.

What this quiz covers

This quiz focuses on Pronouns And Reference Words, giving you a quick way to practice the rules, question types, and explanations that matter most for Conversational Japanese.

How to use this quiz

Try each quiz question before looking at the correct answer. Use the explanations to review missed ideas, then come back to similar questions until the pattern feels familiar.

All questions

Question 1

A: 昨日買ったかばん、見せてくれない？ B:  ？ちょっと待って、今持ってきます。

Speaker B has not yet seen the bag and is seeking confirmation about which bag Speaker A is referring to. The bag was introduced as a topic by Speaker A and is not currently visible to either speaker. Which response word is most appropriate in the blank?

  1. これ
  2. それ (correct answer)
  3. あれ
  4. どれ
Explanation: When dealing with Japanese demonstratives (こそあど言葉), the key question is always: where is the object in relation to the speakers? These words encode spatial and conversational distance — not just physical location, but whether something is in the listener's "domain" or has been previously mentioned. In this dialogue, Speaker A brought up the bag they bought yesterday. The bag isn't physically present in front of either speaker, but it belongs to Speaker A — it's in A's possession and A introduced it into the conversation. From Speaker B's perspective, the bag is associated with the other person (Speaker A), making それ the natural choice. B) それ correctly signals "that thing of yours" — something in the listener's (Speaker A's) domain. This is why それ works beautifully here: B is essentially saying "that bag you're talking about?" As for the wrong answers: A) これ would imply the bag is near Speaker B or somehow within B's immediate space, which contradicts the situation — B hasn't even seen it yet. C) あれ refers to something distant from both speakers, typically something neither is holding or something mutually recalled from memory (like a landmark both have visited). Since the bag is specifically A's item in A's possession, あれ overstates the distance. D) どれ means "which one?" and is used when selecting among multiple visible options — it doesn't fit a context where no bag is physically present. A handy rule: if something belongs to or was introduced by the other speaker, reach for それ. Save あれ for shared distant memories or objects out of both speakers' reach entirely.

Question 2

A: 先週の映画、どうだった？ B:  はちょっと長すぎたけど、ストーリーはよかったよ。

Both speakers watched the same movie together the previous week. Neither can see it now. Speaker A introduced the topic. Which pronoun most naturally fills the blank in Speaker B's reply?

  1. これ
  2. あれ (correct answer)
  3. それ
  4. どれ
Explanation: When answering questions about Japanese demonstrative pronouns (こそあど言葉), always ask yourself two things: where is the object physically located, and who introduced it into the conversation? The pronouns こ・そ・あ each encode distance — but not just physical distance. In conversation, あ-series words (あれ、あの、あそこ) refer to something that is shared common ground between both speakers: something neither person can see right now, but that both already know about from shared experience. Here, both speakers watched the movie together last week. It's not present, and it was introduced into their shared memory — not just by one speaker's recent mention. This makes B) あれ the natural, correct choice. A) これ refers to something close to the speaker, almost always something physically present or just handed over. Using これ for a movie seen last week would feel strange and ungrammatical in context. C) それ is the common trap here. それ refers to something in the listener's territory or something the other speaker just introduced. While Speaker A did bring up the movie, the key is that it's shared memory — not something only A knows. If B were hearing about the movie for the first time, それ might work, but that contradicts the scenario. D) どれ is a question word meaning "which one" and has no place in a statement like this. Your study tip: memorize あれ = shared memory / mutual experience. Whenever both speakers already know the referent from a past shared event, あれ is almost always the right choice over それ.

Question 3

A: すみません、この電車は新宿に止まりますか。 B: いいえ、 は止まりません。次の電車に乗ってください。

Which word correctly fills the blank so that Speaker B's response is grammatically natural and refers back to the train they are currently discussing?

  1. あれ
  2. それ (correct answer)
  3. こちら
  4. どれ
Explanation: When answering fill-in-the-blank questions in Japanese, pay close attention to the ko-so-a-do (こそあど) demonstrative system, which determines which pronoun to use based on the spatial or conversational relationship between speakers. The key rule: こ (ko-) refers to something close to the speaker, そ (so-) refers to something close to the listener or something already mentioned in conversation, あ (a-) refers to something distant from both speakers, and ど (do-) forms question words. In this dialogue, Speaker A asked about "この電車" — a train they are riding or standing near. When Speaker B responds, that train is part of the shared conversational context, not physically closer to one person than the other. In Japanese, when referring back to something the other person just mentioned, you use the そ series. Therefore, それ (B) — meaning "that (thing you mentioned)" — is the natural and grammatically correct choice. A) あれ is wrong because the あ series refers to things distant from both speakers, implying the train is far away and out of shared context, which doesn't fit here. C) こちら means "this way/direction" or is used as a polite way to refer to people — it doesn't naturally replace a noun like "train" in this context. D) どれ means "which one?" — a question word that would make B's response nonsensical since B is making a statement, not asking a question. Remember: when echoing or referring back to something the other person just said, always reach for the そ series — それ, その, そこ, etc.

Question 4

A: 田中さんのオフィスはどこですか。 B:  です。あのビルの3階にあります。

Speaker B is pointing to a building that is far from both speakers. Which combination of reference words correctly fills the blank and maintains consistent spatial reference with the rest of Speaker B's sentence?

  1. ここ
  2. そこ
  3. あそこ (correct answer)
  4. こちら
Explanation: When a question asks you to fill in a demonstrative pronoun (こそあど言葉), always check two things: who the thing is near, and whether your answer is consistent with other reference words in the same sentence. Japanese has a three-way spatial system: こ- words (ここ、こちら) refer to things near the speaker, そ- words (そこ、そちら) refer to things near the listener, and あ- words (あそこ、あちら) refer to things far from both speakers. The passage tells you the building is far from both speakers, which immediately points you toward the あ- series. Speaker B then confirms this with あのビル ("that building over there") — using the あ- demonstrative adjective. Your blank must match that same spatial frame. C (あそこ) is correct because it means "over there" — far from both speakers — and aligns perfectly with あのビル later in the sentence. The answer is internally consistent. A (ここ) is wrong because it means "here," implying the office is right next to the speaker. That contradicts both the physical setup and あのビル. B (そこ) is wrong because it means "there," suggesting the location is near the listener, not far from both. It also clashes with the あ- word that follows. D (こちら) is wrong for two reasons: it belongs to the こ- series (near the speaker), and while こちら can mean "this way/direction," it still contradicts あのビル. A quick study tip: scan the entire sentence for こそあど clues before choosing — inconsistent demonstratives are a classic distractor trap on Japanese grammar questions.

Question 5

A: あのカフェ、前に一緒に行ったところだよね。 B: うん、 は本当においしかったね。また行きたいな。

Both speakers have shared memory of the café, which is not physically visible to either of them during this conversation. Which pronoun should fill the blank?

  1. それ
  2. これ
  3. あそこ (correct answer)
  4. そこ
Explanation: When dealing with Japanese demonstratives (こそあど言葉), the key question to ask yourself is: where is the referent in relation to the speakers? The こ/そ/あ distinction isn't just about physical distance — it also applies to memory, shared experience, and psychological proximity. Here, both speakers are reminiscing about a café they visited together in the past. It's not physically visible to either of them. In Japanese, when something is shared in the speakers' mutual memory or common experience — but distant from the present moment — あ-series words are the natural choice. This is why C) あそこ is correct. The food (implied by the blank in context, referring to "that place's" offerings) belongs to a shared, distant memory, and あそこ captures that sense of "that place we both remember." Now let's look at why the other options fall short. A) それ is a そ-series pronoun, typically used for things near the listener or things the listener just introduced into the conversation. Since this memory belongs equally to both speakers, それ would feel like B is claiming the café is more "theirs" than shared. B) これ is a こ-series word, implying the referent is close to the speaker — but the café is distant in both space and time, making これ feel unnatural and confusing. D) そこ refers to a place near the listener, not a mutually shared distant memory, so it misapplies the そ-series logic here. A useful rule of thumb: あ-series = shared, distant memory; そ-series = listener's territory; こ-series = speaker's immediate sphere. Memorizing this triangle will help you on any こそあど question.

Question 6

A: すみません、トイレはどちらですか。 B:  に行って、右に曲がってください。

Speaker B is a store employee directing Speaker A (a customer) to the restroom, which is located at the far end of the store — distant from both speakers. Which directional reference word correctly fills the blank?

  1. あちら (correct answer)
  2. こちら
  3. そちら
  4. どちら
Explanation: When answering questions like this, think about the Japanese ko-so-a-do (こそあど) system. This system organizes words by physical or psychological distance: ko- words refer to things near the speaker, so- words refer to things near the listener, and a- words refer to things far from both parties. The do- words are question words. In this conversation, a customer (A) asks a store employee (B) where the restroom is. The restroom is at the far end of the store — distant from both speakers. That's your key clue. Since the location is remote from everyone in the conversation, you need an a- series word. A) あちら is correct. あちら is the polite directional form meaning "that way over there" — far from both the speaker and listener. It fits perfectly here because the restroom is distant from both A and B. B) こちら is wrong. こちら means "this way" — near the speaker (the employee). Using it would imply the restroom is close to the employee, which contradicts the setup. C) そちら is wrong. そちら means "that way" — near the listener (the customer). It would imply the restroom is beside the customer asking the question, which makes no sense. D) どちら is wrong. どちら is a question word meaning "which way?" — the employee is giving directions, not asking a question. A quick memory aid: ko = close to me, so = close to you, a = away from us both, do = don't know (question). Keep this framework handy whenever you see こそあど words on the exam.

Question 7

（二人は同じプリントを見ながら話しています。） A: この問題、難しくない？ B: うん、 は私も全然わからなかった。先生に聞いてみよう。

Both speakers are sitting together and looking at the same worksheet in front of them. Speaker B agrees and refers to the same problem A mentioned. Which pronoun is most natural for B to use?

  1. あれ
  2. それ
  3. こちら
  4. これ (correct answer)
Explanation: When dealing with Japanese demonstrative pronouns (こそあど言葉), the key question is always: where is the object relative to the speakers? Japanese uses a three-way distance system — ko- words for things near the speaker, so- words for things near the listener or just mentioned, and a- words for things far from both speakers. In this scene, both speakers are sitting together looking at the same worksheet directly in front of them. Because the problem is physically close to Speaker B (and Speaker A), D) これ is the most natural choice. これ refers to something in the immediate vicinity of the speaker — something you could reach out and touch. Since the worksheet is right there on the table, B naturally says これは私も全然わからなかった. As for the wrong answers: A) あれ refers to something far from both speakers — something across the room or out of sight entirely. Using it here would imply the worksheet isn't in front of them, which contradicts the scene. B) それ refers to something near the listener (Speaker A) or previously mentioned in conversation, but not near the speaker. It would make sense if Speaker A were holding the worksheet alone, but since both can see it equally, それ creates an awkward distance. C) こちら means "this direction" or "this side/person" and is used for locations or people, not objects like a worksheet — it simply doesn't fit grammatically here. A handy tip: whenever both speakers share the same physical space and object, reach for これ/この. Save それ for when only the other person has the item, and あれ for when neither person is near it.

Question 8

A: 鈴木さん、新しい企画書はもう完成しましたか。 B: はい、 は昨日完成しました。明日の会議でご説明いたします。

This is a formal workplace exchange. Speaker A asked about a specific document (企画書). Speaker B is responding formally and will be presenting the document at the meeting. Which pronoun most naturally replaces 企画書 in B's response, considering both grammatical reference rules and register?

  1. こちら (correct answer)
  2. それ
  3. あれ
  4. これ
Explanation: When responding in formal Japanese workplace settings, you need to consider two separate factors at once: spatial/referential distance and register (politeness level). This question tests both simultaneously. The こそあど (ko-so-a-do) system in Japanese isn't just about physical distance — it also carries social weight. こちら (A) is the formal equivalent of これ/ここ, but critically, it elevates the register of your speech, making it appropriate for business and polite contexts. Since Speaker B is the one who completed the 企画書 and will be presenting it, the document belongs to B's sphere — making a こ-series word the correct referential choice. Combined with its formal register, こちら is the natural and correct answer. Looking at the distractors: B (それ) uses the そ-series, which refers to something in the listener's sphere or previously mentioned by the other speaker. While 企画書 was mentioned by Speaker A, B has already completed it and "owns" it contextually — それ feels too distancing here. More importantly, それ is neutral in register, lacking the formality this workplace exchange demands. C (あれ) uses the あ-series, indicating something distant from both speakers or something mutually known but removed — completely inappropriate for a document B just finished yesterday. D (これ) would be referentially correct (B's sphere), but これ is casual and informal, clashing with the polite speech forms like ご説明いたします used throughout B's response. Your takeaway: in formal Japanese, always pair your referential logic with register awareness. When in doubt in a business context, reach for the こちら/そちら/あちら set over これ/それ/あれ.

Question 9

A: 来週の会議の資料、もう作りましたか。 B: はい、 はもう送りました。確認していただけましたか。

Speaker B wants to refer back to the specific documents (資料) that Speaker A just mentioned. This is a casual or semi-casual exchange between colleagues. Which pronoun best replaces 資料 in B's sentence while reflecting that the item was introduced by the other speaker?

  1. これ
  2. あれ
  3. それ (correct answer)
  4. こちら
Explanation: This question tests your understanding of Japanese demonstrative pronouns (こそあど言葉), specifically how distance in conversation — not physical space — determines which pronoun to use. In Japanese, これ/こ- words refer to things in the speaker's own zone, あれ/あ- words refer to things distant from both speakers, and それ/そ- words refer to things in the listener's zone or, crucially, things introduced by the other speaker. This "conversational distance" rule is essential: when someone brings up a topic or object, that item belongs to their sphere, so you refer back to it using それ. In this dialogue, Speaker A introduces 資料 (the documents). When Speaker B responds, those documents came from A's side of the conversation — so B correctly uses それ to refer back to them. "それはもう送りました" naturally means "I've already sent those (documents you mentioned)." C is the correct answer. Choice A, これ, would imply the documents are in B's own zone — as if B is currently holding or presenting them. That contradicts the context where A raised the topic. Choice B, あれ, suggests the item is distant from both speakers, often used for shared memories or things neither party is actively discussing — not appropriate for something A just mentioned seconds ago. Choice D, こちら, is a polite directional/demonstrative meaning "this way" or "this one over here," and while used in formal contexts, it refers to the speaker's own side, making it incorrect here for the same reason as これ. Remember this rule: if they said it, use それ. Whenever a colleague or conversation partner introduces something, that topic belongs to their conversational zone.

Question 10

A: 駅の近くに新しいレストランができたって聞いたけど、知ってる？ B: ああ、 のこと？まだ行ったことないけど、気になってたんだ。

Speaker A introduced a new restaurant as fresh information. Speaker B has heard of it but has not yet visited. Which pronoun does B most naturally use to refer back to the restaurant A mentioned?

  1. あれ
  2. これ
  3. どれ
  4. それ (correct answer)
Explanation: When answering questions about Japanese demonstrative pronouns (こそあど言葉), the key factor is psychological and informational distance — not physical distance. Ask yourself: whose shared knowledge is this information part of? Here, Speaker A introduces the restaurant as new information to the conversation. Speaker B has already heard of it independently, but it was not introduced by B, nor is it something both speakers have been mutually discussing. Crucially, A just brought it up moments ago, making it part of A's informational territory. When B responds, the restaurant belongs to "A's side" of the exchange — something just mentioned by the other person. This is the classic use case for それ (D), which refers to something in the listener's domain or recently introduced by the other speaker. It's the natural, neutral way to say "that thing you just mentioned." Choice A, あれ, implies shared, mutual memory — something both speakers already know well, like a famous landmark or an old memory. Since B has only vaguely heard of this restaurant and A just introduced it, あれ feels too familiar and distant-in-a-shared-way. Choice B, これ, would suggest the information belongs to B's immediate sphere, as if B were the one bringing it up — which doesn't fit here. Choice C, どれ, is a question word meaning "which one," used when choosing among options, so it makes no grammatical sense as a reference pronoun in this context. A useful tip: on こそあど questions, always identify who introduced the information. If the other speaker just mentioned something, それ is almost always your safest choice.