Lesson 03 of 50 · ここ・そこ・あそこ · みんなの日本語 第3課 · N5

Story voice: 〜 N3–N2 Japanese — above this lesson’s level, on purpose. Your target is the Key Sentences.

Episode 03: Where Is It?

Mini Story

The offices of IMC Corporation. Mike sits down by the front desk, under a false name. “Please wait” — the voice falls from above him.IMC 公司的办公室。麦克顶着假身份，在前台旁坐下。「请稍等」——声音从头顶落下来。IMC 公司的辦公室。麥克頂著假身分，在櫃檯旁坐下。「請稍等」——聲音從頭頂落下來。Văn phòng của Công ty IMC. Mike ngồi xuống cạnh quầy lễ tân, với một cái tên giả. “Xin vui lòng chờ” — giọng nói rơi xuống từ phía trên.
IMC コーポレーションの オフィス。 マイクは偽にせniseの身分みぶんmibunで受付うけつけuketsukeに座すわsuwaる。「お待まmaちください」 と声こえkoeが降ふfuる。

The receptionist’s finger travels across the floor plan — and stops at the spot where they are sitting now.前台的手指在平面图上移动——停在他们此刻所在的地方。櫃檯人員的手指在平面圖上移動——停在他們此刻所在的地方。Ngón tay của nhân viên lễ tân lướt trên sơ đồ văn phòng — rồi dừng lại đúng chỗ hai người đang ngồi.
受付うけつけuketsukeが オフィス の見取みとりmitoriり図ずzuを指ゆびyubiで辿たどtadoる。

Mike lifts a hand and points — a door on the other side of the corridor.麦克抬手一指——走廊对面的那扇门。麥克抬手一指——走廊對面的那扇門。Mike đưa tay chỉ — cánh cửa ở phía bên kia hành lang.
マイクは、 廊下ろうかroukaの向むmuこうの扉とびらtobiraを指さsaす。

Where to plant the listening device — first, one excuse. “The restroom, please.” The receptionist points far down the hall.窃听器该放在哪里——先要一个借口。「请问，洗手间……」前台指向走廊的尽头。竊聽器該放在哪裡——先要一個藉口。「請問，洗手間……」櫃檯人員指向走廊的盡頭。Đặt máy nghe lén ở đâu — trước hết, cần một cái cớ. “Cho hỏi, nhà vệ sinh…” Nhân viên lễ tân chỉ về phía cuối hành lang.
盗聴器とうちょうきtouchoukiをどこに置おoくか ── 言い訳いいわけiiwakeをひとつ。「お手洗てあらtearaいを」。 受付うけつけuketsukeは廊下ろうかroukaの先さきsakiを指差ゆびさしyubisashiした。

A street corner at night. Mike stops a stranger and asks the way to the station.夜里的街角。麦克拦住一个陌生的路人，问去车站的路。夜裡的街角。麥克攔住一個陌生的路人，問去車站的路。Một góc phố ban đêm. Mike dừng một người qua đường xa lạ, hỏi đường đến nhà ga.
夜よるyoruの街角まちかどmachikado。 マイクは見知みしmishiらぬ通行人つうこうにんtsuukouninに、 駅えきekiへの道みちmichiを尋たずtazuねる。

Chapter 1: Finding a Lead →

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Key Sentences

Point at places and say.

1. Here (ここ)

2. There — near you (そこ) — question

3. Over there (あそこ)

4. Where? (どこ)

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Practice out loud

Say the answer before you look. The same sentences you just read — now from your own mouth.

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Vocabulary

日本語	English	简体	繁體	Tiếng Việt
ここ ここは じむしつです。	here This is the office.	这里 这里是办公室。	這裡 這裡是辦公室。	đây Đây là văn phòng.
そこ そこは かいぎしつです。	there (near you) That is the meeting room.	那里 那里是会议室。	那裡 那裡是會議室。	đó Đó là phòng họp.
あそこ トイレは あそこです。	over there The restroom is over there.	那边（远处） 洗手间在那边。	那邊（遠處） 洗手間在那邊。	đằng kia Nhà vệ sinh ở đằng kia.
どこ 駅えきekiは どこですか。	where Where is the station?	哪里 车站在哪里？	哪裡 車站在哪裡？	ở đâu Nhà ga ở đâu?
じむしつ あそこは じむしつです。	office Over there is the office.	办公室 那边是办公室。	辦公室 那邊是辦公室。	văn phòng Đằng kia là văn phòng.
かいぎしつ かいぎしつは そこです。	meeting room The meeting room is there.	会议室 会议室在那里。	會議室 會議室在那裡。	phòng họp Phòng họp ở đó.
トイレ トイレは ここじゃありません。	restroom The restroom is not here.	洗手间 洗手间不在这里。	洗手間 洗手間不在這裡。	nhà vệ sinh Nhà vệ sinh không ở đây.
駅えきeki 駅えきekiは あそこです。	station The station is over there.	车站 车站在那边。	車站 車站在那邊。	nhà ga Nhà ga ở đằng kia.

Practice these words →

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Grammar Patterns

Grammar Picture

• 目標文型this lesson’s pattern这一课的句型這一課的句型mẫu câu của bài này
• 名詞noun名词danh từ
• 助詞particle助词trợ từ
• 述語sentence ending句尾句尾phần cuối câu
• 疑問詞question word疑问词từ để hỏi

Need more detail? Open the sections below.

ここ vs これ

ここ・そこ・あそこ = place pronouns (= a location). これ・それ・あれ = thing pronouns (= an object). Both follow the こそあど distance system.

Polite formal version: こちら・そちら・あちら

「こちら・そちら・あちら」 are more formal/polite versions that can also indicate direction or refer to a person politely:

• Standard: ここは じむしつです。
• Polite: こちらは じむしつでございます。

About どこ (where)

「どこ」 asks for a place. Pair with the topic particle 「は」:

• 「駅えきekiは どこですか?」 = Where is the station?
• 「トイレは どこですか?」 = Where is the restroom?

Polite version: 「どちら」.

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Roleplay Practice

Try this dialog with a partner (or aloud, switching roles).

Scene: A passerby in Tokyo asks Mike for directions. Mike is undercover — he needs to act natural.

Switch roles. Then practice with real places you know.

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How do you say this in Japanese?

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How to Use This Lesson

Read the sections in the order they appear. About 40 minutes.
Tomorrow, come back and say the Key Sentences again — that is where it sticks.

For Teachers

For Teachers (45-60 minutes in class)

• Warm-up (5 min): Point at places in the classroom: ここ / そこ / あそこ.
• Story reading (10 min): Read Mini Story together.
• Place drill (15 min): In pairs, point at places and practice. Map activity: students mark places.
• Roleplay (15 min): The directions dialog. Switch roles.
• Check Yourself (5-10 min): Individual quiz, group review.

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← Lesson 02 | Midnight Encounter | Lesson 04 →

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