"Are": Japanese word of the year
Japanese words of the year are always exciting and surprising, but this year's takes the cake.
are あれ
pronunciation
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- IPA: [a̠ɾe̞]
distal demonstrative, something far off removed from both speaker and listener: that, yon
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- (deictically) that one over there (far from the speaker and the addressee)
- あれはなんですか?
- Are wa nan desu ka?
- What is that?
- あれはなんですか?
- (anaphorically) that one we both know (both the speaker and the addressee know)
- これはあれでしょ?○○。
- Kore wa are desho?○○.
- This is that one thing, isn't it? You know, X.
- これはあれでしょ?○○。
- (deictically) that one over there (far from the speaker and the addressee)
Usage note
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- Indicates something far off, removed from both speaker and addressee. Contrast with それ (sore), indicating something removed from the speaker but closer to the addressee.
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