what does the (near listener) mean? - Feed Post by shittywizard
what does the (near listener) mean?
posted by shittywizard
Comments 3
Basically "that", if you refer to something in the hands of someone, for example, you may use that, because that is near the listener.
I will try to take Darwo's explanation a step farther. In Japanese there are two forms of the word for "that" 「それ・その」and 「あれ・あの」. The first one means that the object is close to the listener. An example would be like this:
A: ええと、その鉛筆（えんぴつ）を貸（か）してください。
B: はい、どうぞ。
This is saying
A: Umm please lend me that pencil.
B: Ok here you are.
The pencil in this case is within arms reach of B or in this case the listener.
The second phrase of あれ・あの means the object is farther away from both people.
A:あの人はとっても美人（びじん）だね
B:うん
That person is a really beautiful woman, right.
Yeah
That in this case means the person is farther away from the two people who are having the conversation and they both know who is being talked about.
- And I must say you were way better than me, haha.
