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Grammar detail: どちら, どれ, どの

どちら, どれ, どの  which
293 words
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どちら
どれ
+
means
which
どの
+
noun
means
(demonstrative) which
In Japanese, the words どちら, どれ and どの are commonly used to ask “which” in different situations. Each word has a specific role.
どちら - "which (two)" options
When asking 'which' to elicit a choice between two options, use どちら.
はん
パンどちらいいです
Which do you prefer, rice or bread?
この
ほん
あの
ほん
どちら
です
Which do you like, this book or that book?
どちら
わたし
ものです
Which is mine?
The above examples use the pattern どちら + が〜. This pattern is often introduced in the early stages of Japanese-language learning. However, どちら also appears in a variety of other patterns when expressing "which.”
どちら with other patterns
どちら
くるま
とう
さん
です
Which car is your father's?
どちら
べます

Which will you eat?
In the next example, どちら is used with the phrase 〜にします meaning “I’ll have ~” or “I’ll go with ~”.
どちらします
Which one will you have?
The example below uses the common expression のほうが〜ですか which is often used when comparing things.
ふゆ
なつ
どちらほうが
です
Which do you like better, winter or summer?
The important point to remember is that どちら is used for two options, while どれ is used when asking "which” among three or more.
どれ - "which (three or more)" options
When asking 'which' to elicit a choice between three ore more options, use どれ.
Like どちらが〜, the pattern どれ + が〜 is usually taught during the beginning stages of Japanese-language learning.
この
うち
どれ
です
Which one do you like among these?
どれ
わたし
たち
くるま
です
Which is our car?
どれ with other patterns
どれ
います

Which one will you buy?
あなたペンどれです
Which is your pen?
どれします
Which one will you go with?
どの + noun - "which (specific object)
どの is used before a noun to ask “which [noun/object]” when there are multiple options.
どのドラマ
いちばん
一番
です
Which drama series do you like best?
どの
でんしゃ
電車
です
Which train are you catching?
どの
くうこう
空港
から
しゅっぱつ
出発
します

Which airport do I leave from?
どちら - Other Meanings - which way/where; who
In addition to meaning “which (of two)”, どちら is often used in everyday conversation with two other meanings. Both are polite ways to ask “which way/where” or “who”.
でぐち
出口
どちらです
Where is the way out?
どちら
きたい
です
Where would you like to go?
どちら
さま
です
Who is this, please?
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Kanji used in this grammar

ハン   めし boiled rice, food   
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ホン   book   もと origin   
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コウ   この    す to like   
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シ   わたくし    わたし I, myself   
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シャ   くるま car   
フ   ちち father   
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ショク   ジキ    food   たべる to eat   く to eat   
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トウ   ふゆ winter   
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カ   ゲ   なつ summer   
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チュウ   ジュウ   なか middle   
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バイ   か to buy   
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イチ   イツ   ひと    ひと- one   
バン    turn   
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デン    electricity   
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ジョウ   load; power   の to board   のせる to load on   
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クウ   から empty   あ to be empty   あける to empty, vacate   そら sky   
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コウ   みなと harbour, port   
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シュツ   スイ   だ to take out, to put out   で to go out, to exit   
ハツ   ホツ    emission, discharge   
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コウ   ク   くち mouth   
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コウ   ギョウ   アン   ゆ    い to go   おこな to take place   
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ヨウ   さま Mr / Mrs   
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