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Grammar detail: どちら, どれ, どの

どちら, どれ, どの
which
317 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.
ご
はん
飯
とパンどちらがいいですか。
Which do you prefer, rice or bread?
この
ほん
本
とあの
ほん
本
、どちらが
す
好
き
ですか。
Which do you like, this book or that book?
どちらが
わたし
私
のものですか。
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
どちらの
くるま
車
がお
とう
父
さん
のですか。
Which car is your father's?
どちらを
た
食
べます
か。
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 ~”.
どちらにしますか。
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
冬
と
なつ
夏
、どちらのほうが
す
好
き
ですか。
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
中
でどれが
す
好
き
ですか。
Which one do you like among these?
どれが
わたし
私
たち
の
くるま
車
ですか。
Which is our car?
どれ with other patterns
どれを
か
買
います
か。
Which one will you buy?
あなたのペンはどれですか。
Which is your pen?
どれにしますか。
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.
どのドラマが
いちばん
一番
す
好
き
ですか。
Which drama series do you like best?
どの
でんしゃ
電車
に
の
乗
る
のですか。
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
か。
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
はどちらですか。
Where is the way out?
どちらへ
い
行
きたい
ですか。
Where would you like to go?
どちら
さま
様
ですか。
Who is this, please?
Take our topic lesson: "どちら vs どれ vs どの - What's the difference?" to check your understanding.
どちら vs どれ vs どの - What's the difference? NEW!
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Kanji used in this grammar

飯
ハン   めし boiled rice, food   
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本
ホン   book   もと origin   
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好
コウ   このむ    すく to like   
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私
シ   わたくし    わたし I, myself   
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車
シャ   くるま car   
父
フ   ちち father   
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食
ショク   ジキ    food   たべる to eat   くう to eat   
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冬
トウ   ふゆ winter   
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夏
カ   ゲ   なつ summer   
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中
チュウ   ジュウ   なか middle   
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買
バイ   かう to buy   
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一
イチ   イツ   ひとつ    ひと- one   
番
バン    turn   
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電
デン    electricity   
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乗
ジョウ   load; power   のる to board   のせる to load on   
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空
クウ   から empty   あく to be empty   あける to empty, vacate   そら sky   
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港
コウ   みなと harbour, port   
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出
シュツ   スイ   だす to take out, to put out   でる to go out, to exit   
発
ハツ   ホツ    emission, discharge   
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口
コウ   ク   くち mouth   
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行
コウ   ギョウ   アン   ゆく    いく to go   おこなう to take place   
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様
ヨウ   さま Mr / Mrs   
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