こそあど IV: こちら, そちら, & あちら
In this lesson, we will discuss three more こそあど phrases that are politer counterparts to both the こそあど phrases for “this” and “that” and those for “here” and “there.” The reason for why they would be intertwined with each other is because phrases indicating direction have always been used in Japanese to also refer to physical entities, and by extension, people as you will soon see.
こちら
The first main usage of こちら is as a politer version of これ.
1. こちらは新製品でございます。
This is a new product.
Grammar Note: In respectful language, more than just one word here and there will be different. Verb forms also change. Instead of using です, でございます may be used instead to both be more respectful yet humble at the same time.
Prefix Note: 新～ is seen in a lot of phrases in place of 新しい to mean “new” to form compound phrases.
2. こちら、親子丼です。
This is your oyakodon (you ordered).
Culture Note: 親子丼 is a bowl of rice topped with chicken and eggs. 親子 means “parent and child,” and the use of chicken and eggs refers to the age-old question “which came first, the chicken or the egg?” This is one variety of rice bowl dishes called 丼.
The second main usage of こちら is as a politer version of ここ.
3. どうぞこちらへ。
Please, come this way.
4. こちらを向いてください。
Please face this way.
5. こちらは昨日、酷い雨でした。
It rained here heavily yesterday.
As a Pronoun
Just as alluded to in the introduction, kochira こちら may also be used as a pronoun, and when it is, it can either be a first person or a third person pronoun. As a first person pronoun, it is used to indirectly refer to oneself.
6. こちらこそどうぞよろしくお願いします。
It’s very nice to meet you too.
7. こちらはいつでも結構です。
I’m fine whenever.
In the third person, こちら may also be used to refer to “this person.” In this case, the person is either equal or above one’s own status. The phrase is synonymous with この方. When the person is of especially high status, the suffix ～様 should be added, creating こちら様.
8. こちらはジョーンズ夫人です。
This is Mrs. Jones.
9. こちら様にお水を差し上げてください。
Please give this individual water.
そちら
The first main usage of そちら is as a politer version of それ.
10. そちらはお買い得ですよ。
That is a good bargain.
The second main usage of そちら is used as a politer version of そこ.
11. そちらはもう寒くなりましたか。
Has it already gotten cold there?
As a Pronoun
As a pronoun, そちら frequently refers to the person whom you are interacting with. Essentially, this is a respectful “you.”
12. そちらのご意見を聞かせてください。
Sochira no go-iken wo kikasete kudasai.
Please let me hear your opinion.
Grammar Note: 聞かせる means “to let hear/ask.” Additionally, the prefix ご～attached to 意見 adds respect to the noun.
13. そちらこそお疲れ様です。
Thanks to you as well for your work.
Sentence Note: This phrase is used to very politely respond to also being told “お疲れ様.” This phrase is used at the end of the day to thank colleagues for their efforts in the day’s work. It is also used by the public in service industries to people who have gotten off work.
As an extension of this, it may also refer to someone in proximity/relation with whom you are interacting with. In this case, you are not who is completely in the know about the individual. If the person happens to be in eyesight, then the individual is simply close to the listener.
Just as is the case for こちら, if the person in question is of especially high social status, then the suffix ～様 should be added, creating そちら様.
14. そちらを私に紹介してもらえませんか。
Could I have you introduce the/that person to me?
あちら
The first main usage of あちら is as a politer version of あれ.
15. あちらをご覧ください。
Please look at that over there.
The second main usage of あちら is as a politer version of あそこ.
16. お手洗いはあちらです。
The bathroom is over there.
17. 金子さんはあちら仕込みの流暢な英語が話せますよ。
Mr. Kaneko can speak fluent English acquired abroad.
Grammar Note: 話せます utilizes the potential form of the verb 話す, which we’ll get to later. Additionally, the suffix ～仕込み is used to mean “acquired at.”
As a Pronoun
あちら may be used to refer to a third person that is not in near proximity to the speaker or the listener. When the individual is not in eyesight, all parties in the conversation are assumed to know who the person in question is. However, simple distance from parties involved determines its usage if said person is in eyesight.
18. あちらがお母様ですか。
Is that person over there your mother?
19. あちら様は家柄もよろしいのです。
That person’s pedigree is also very good.
こっち, そっち, & あっち
Quite simply, these are contractions of こちら, そちら, and あちら respectively. They possess the same meanings but without heightened sense of politeness. To the contrary, they are casual since they are contractions.
20. こっち、こっち！
This way, this way!
21. それはこっちの台詞だ。
That’s my line.
22. そっちの人たちのことを話してたの？
Were you talking about those people?
23. あっちの水は苦いぞ。こっちの水は甘いぞ。
The water over there is bitter! The water here is sweet!
Culture Note: These lines are a part of an old children’s song for catching fireflies.
Grammar Note: The particle ぞ is used here to add force to the tone of the sentence.
24. 私は今年、世界をあちこち旅行して回りました。
I traveled around the world this year.
Phrase Note: あちこち literally means here and there. Although it may be pronounced as あっちこっち, that is not its normal pronunciation. However, あちこちis not a contraction of it. In fact, it is simply composed of あちら and こちら without the /ra/.