N5 · Unit 1
Lesson 3Here, there, and prices
Ask about locations, floors, and prices, and identify the function of a place.
What you learn
Ask about locations, floors, and prices, and identify the function of a place.
Learning points
- Place demonstratives
- Places and facilities
- Numbers and prices
Why this lesson comes now
This lesson connects what you can already say to a new way of expressing it. Hear the key sentences, understand the structure, then use it in a real situation.
Your next step
Listen to the key sentences, understand the pattern, finish the examples and vocabulary, then continue to the next lesson.
Open the interactive lessonCore pattern
ここ / そこ / あそこ / どこ ・ いくらBeginner explanation
ここ, そこ, and あそこ mean here, there, and over there. Ask about a place with どこ. Ask a price with いくらですか.
Understand these sentences first
- ここは 受付です。koko wa uketsuke desu
This is the reception desk.
- トイレは どこですか。toire wa doko desu ka
Where is the restroom?
- エレベーターは あそこです。erebeta wa asoko desu
The elevator is over there.
- これは いくらですか。kore wa ikura desu ka
How much is this?
Core vocabulary
- ここここhere
- そこそこthere
- あそこあそこover there
- どこどこwhere
- トイレトイレrestroom
- 受付うけつけreception
- 入り口いりぐちentrance
- 円えんyen
Grammar, one point at a time
ここ, そこ, and あそこ point to places
ここ／そこ／あそこ は N ですThe place series follows the same distance relationship as the object series: ここ is near the speaker, そこ near the listener, and あそこ away from both.
Examples
- ここは 受付です。This is the reception desk.
- あそこは 入り口です。The entrance is over there.
N は place です means that N is at a place
N は place ですトイレは ここです makes the facility the topic and gives its location. ここは トイレです makes the place the topic and identifies it. The focus differs.
Examples
- 食堂は 7階です。The dining hall is on the seventh floor.
- ミナさんは 事務所です。Mina is in the office.
Ask location with どこ
N は どこですかPlace the person, thing, or facility before は and ask どこですか. In a polite setting, どちらですか is available.
Examples
- トイレは どこですか。Where is the restroom?
- わたしの かばんは ここです。My bag is here.
も means also
N も N ですWhen a second item has the same description as the first, replace は with も to mean also. The pattern also works in questions.
Examples
- ここは ホテルです。あそこも ホテルです。This is a hotel, and that is a hotel too.
A ですか、B ですか asks the listener to choose
N は A ですか、B ですかThis is an alternative question. Answer with the selected option, not a bare はい or いいえ. More than two options can be listed.
Examples
- 今日は 水曜日ですか、木曜日ですか。Is today Wednesday or Thursday?
- 木曜日です。It is Thursday.
Ask a price with いくら
N は いくらですかいくら asks how much. Answer with a number followed by 円. For larger amounts, pay attention to sound changes in hundreds and thousands and to place value.
Examples
- この コートは いくらですか。How much is this coat?
- 8,000円です。It is 8,000 yen.
Expressions and situations
Floors use 階 with several sound changes
Do not mechanically attach かい to every number. Learn the established readings for 1, 3, 6, 8, 10, and 何階.
A follow-up can omit repeated material
After asking いくらですか once, a follow-up may be shortened to あれは？ with rising intonation. Ellipsis requires clear context; do not omit material the listener cannot recover.
こちら, そちら, あちら, and どちら are more polite
These words also express direction and commonly replace ここ, そこ, あそこ, and どこ in service encounters.
- 受付は どちらですか。Where is reception?
- あちらです。It is over there.
お国 and 御社 require context
お国は どちらですか politely asks someone's country. 会社は どちらですか can ask either the company's location or its name, so answer from context.
Japanese often shortens long loanwords
Common shortenings include パーソナルコンピューター→パソコン, コンビニエンスストア→コンビニ, and デジタルカメラ→デジカメ. Learn established forms rather than cutting words arbitrarily.
あのう gets attention or opens a new topic
Use あのう before asking staff for directions, approaching a senior, or making a request. It softens the opening and signals hesitation; it is not an apology by itself.
- あのう、地図は どこですか。Excuse me, where are the maps?
Repeating N ですか can confirm or acknowledge
With a rise, N ですか often confirms what was said. With a fall, it can acknowledge understanding. The same words serve different conversational functions through intonation.
What you should be able to do
- Choose ここ, そこ, or あそこ from a map.
- Link a facility and floor with N は number 階です.
- Ask and answer locations with どこ or どちら.
- Use も for a shared description and A ですか B ですか for alternatives.
- Hear prices and distinguish hundreds, thousands, ten-thousands, and sound changes.
- Complete an original shop scene asking for a map, floor, and price.
Culture and real use
デパ地下 is a common name for a department-store basement food floor
Large department stores often place prepared foods, sweets, fresh food, and regional specialties on basement food floors. Products, floors, and events vary by store. Check the floor guide, then ask 食品売り場は どちらですか.
- 食品売り場は どちらですか。Where is the food floor?
- これは いくらですか。How much is this?