Finding your way around a building. Lesson 3 covers location words (ここ・そこ・あそこ), common places like elevators, escalators, and reception desks, and the vocabulary you need to ask where something is and understand the answer.

Lesson 2 gave you the demonstratives for pointing at objects — this lesson extends that same near/mid/far pattern to places.

These words come from Minna no Nihongo, one of the most widely used Japanese textbooks for beginners. Each word here includes furigana readings, English meanings, example sentences, and native audio to help you review and practice alongside the textbook.

How to use this page

Every kanji in the word column is tappable — it opens a page showing every word that shares that character, so you can start noticing patterns across lessons. Tap a word's romaji or meaning to see example sentences where related vocabulary is linked for easy cross-reference.

You can switch between four Japanese voices (two male, two female) using the speaker button at the bottom of the screen, and change the Japanese font from the navigation bar to get comfortable reading different typefaces.

WordRomajiMeaningAudio
ここkokohere, this place
そこsokothere, that place near the listener
あそこasokothat place over there
どこdokowhere, what place
こちらkochirathis way, this place (polite equivalent of ここ)
そちらsochirathat way, that place near the listener (polite equivalent of そこ)
あちらachirathat way, that place over there (polite equivalent of あそこ)
どちらdochirawhich way, where (polite equivalent of どこ)
(きょう)(しつ)kyōshitsuclassroom
(しょく)(どう)shokudōdining hall, canteen
(じむ)()()jimushooffice
(かい)(ぎし)()kaigishitsuconference room, meeting room
(うけ)(つけ)uketsukereception desk
ロビーrobiilobby
()()heyaroom
トイレ(お(てあ)()い)toire (otearai)toilet, rest room
(かい)(だん)kaidanstaircase
エレベーターerebētālift, elevator
エスカレーターesukarētāescalator
(じど)(うは)()(ばい)()jidōhanbaikivending machine
(でん)()denwatelephone handset, telephone call
[お](くに)[o] kunicountry
(かい)(しゃ)kaishacompany
うちuchihouse, home
(くつ)kutsushoes
ネクタイnekutaitie, necktie
ワインwainwine
()()uribadepartment, counter (in a department store, etc.)
()()chikabasement
(かい)(-(がい)-kai (-gai)-th floor
(なん)(がい)nangaiwhat floor
(えん)-en- yen
いくらikurahow much
(ひゃく)hyakuhundred
(せん)senthousand
(まん)manten thousand
すみません。sumimasen.Excuse me.
どうも。dōmo.Thanks.
いらっしゃいませ。irasshaimase.Welcome./May I help you? (a greeting to a customer or a guest entering a shop, etc.)
[~を]()せて ください。[~wo] misete kudasai.Please show me [~].
じゃjawell, then, in that case
[~を]ください。[~wo] kudasai.Give me [~], please.
イタリアitariaItaly
スイスsuisuSwitzerland
フランスfuransuFrance
ジャカルタjakarutaJakarta
バンコクbankokuBangkok
ベルリンberurinBerlin
(しん)(おお)(さか)shin'ōsakaname of a station in Osaka