Kore Sore Are

You are meeting your Japanese buddy Makoto in the food court at the mall. She sees you, and you sit down at the table to chat and decide what you'd like to eat. Suddenly, you feel someone looming over your table, and you look up to see Pigumon just staring blankly at the two of you. You shout to Makoto...

• それはピグモンだ！

• あれはぴぐもんだ！

• これはぴぐもんだ！

• キャアアアアア！

Answer explanation

Pigumon is close to both the speaker and listener (you and Makoto) so you would pick "kore".

After your unpleasant lunch, you and Mokoto go to the department store Tokyu Hands. There is a cute GIR T-shirt behind the counter, but you can't quite read the price tag. You wave to the shop person behind the counter and ask...

• そのTシャツはいるか？

• このTシャツはいくら？

• あのTシャツはいくら？

• そのTシャツはいくら？

Answer explanation

The first answer uses "iruka", which is the Japanese word for "dolphin". You are asking "Is this T-shirt a dolphin?" For the rest, the shirt is closest to the listener (store person) so you use "sono."

You are wearing your cute GIR T-shirt, and get distracted by a shiny track suit in the window. You realize that Makoto went ahead of you down the escalator. She looks up at you and laughs good-naturedly, but you suddenly see a figure shuffling up behind her...

• きをつけて！あれ　は　ピグモンだ！

• きをつけて！それはぴぐもんだ！

• きをつけて！これはピグモンだ！

• さようなら、まことさん。

Answer explanation

きをつけて！Means "Watch out!" or "Be careful!" Because Pigumon is closest to Makoto (listener) you use "sore."

Makoto runs up the escalator and the two of you escape into the manga section of the famous bookstore Kinokuniya. You want to extoll the virtues of "One Punch Man," and pick it up to show to her, but Makoto doesn't do the shounen genre. She shakes her head...

• あのまんがはバカみたい！

• そのまんがはバカみたい！

• このまんがはバカみたい！

• このまんがはおいしい！

Answer explanation

Despite being high in fibre, manga is not delicious and has toxic dyes from the printing process. Since you are holding the manga (listener) and Makoto is talking (speaker) she would use "sono."

Admittedly you are hurt that Makoto didn't want to give "One Punch Man" a chance, so when you go up to the front counter to make a purchase with her and notice she likes a file folder with "The Little Prince" on it behind the counter, you decide to throw some shade...

• あのファイルはおもしろくない。

• あのファイルはすばらしい。

• そのファイルはかっこいい。

• このファイルはほしくない。

Answer explanation

For being behind the counter, it's equally far from you both. "Omoshirokunai" means boring or uninteresting, and "subarashii" means magnificent, so the only sure way to undermine her fandom is the former.

Words have been said, and things are a bit more tense than usual. You go into an Anime goods store, and both of you approach the counter. You and Makoto have been through a lot together, and you both want to make it right. First, Makoto wants to ask how much the Saitama body pillow next to her costs. She says...

• あの　さいたまのだきまくら　は　いくら？

• その　さいたまのだきまくら　は　いくら？

• この　さいたまのだきまくら　は　いくら？

• さいたま　は　ばくご　より　よわい！

Answer explanation

The pillow is close to her, so she would use "kono." "Dakimakura" translated literally means "hug pillow." The last option, Saitama wa bakugo yori yowai means, "Saitama is weaker than Bakugo!" Hot take, but not related to purchasing a body pillow.

You are touched. The employee replies...

• これは二千三百十円です。

• それは二千三百十円です。

• あれは二千三百十円です。

• それは二十万九千円です。

Answer explanation

The shopkeeper would use "sore" since it is closest to Makoto. The last option does not make sense, because no person in their right mind would pay the rough equivalent of $2090 CAD body pillow.

While Makoto goes to grab the pillow, you point to a Little Prince costume at the back of the store. You ask...

• あのきぐるみ　は　いくら？

• あのおにぎり　は　いくら？

• そのきぐるみ　は　いくら？

• このきぐるみ　は　いくら？

Answer explanation

"Kigurumi" is the word for a onesie style costume, or non-mascot costume that covers your body. "Onigri" is a rice ball. Since it is far from you and the clerk, you use "ano."

Makoto comes back with the pillow and the generous clerk goes to fetch the costume from the back of the shop. As they are coming back to the counter, you realize something familiar about that dead-eyed stare and weird, shuffling walk. You turn to Makoto, and without using capital letters, punctuation, spaces, or desu/da, you shout:

Answer explanation

Pigumon is far away from both of you, who are side-by-side. It is best to use "are" here.

Pigumon is tired of your utterly intolerant attitude, comes up nice and close, and rolls their eyes in disdain...

• この二人はうるさい！

• その二人はうるさい！

• あの二人はうるさい！

• いいTシャツ！

Answer explanation

Pigumon is close to you and commenting on how you both should shut up to an imaginary listener, so it would be best to use "kono."