こちら

also: こっち · こち

こ

ち

ら

Common wordJLPTN5Freq.FrequencyTop 500

Meanings

pronoun

this way; this direction

usually written using kana alone

Refers to a direction toward the speaker or close to the speaker. Often used when guiding someone or indicating a path.

See also: そちら · あちら · どちら

出で口ぐちはこちらです。
The exit is this way.

どうぞこちらへお入はいりください。

Please come in this way.

pronoun

here

usually written using kana alone

Indicates a place near the speaker. Often used in polite or formal contexts; こっち is the casual equivalent.

こちらは静しずかでいいですね。
It's nice and quiet here, isn't it?
お荷に物もつはこちらに置おいてください。
Please put your luggage here.

pronoun

this one; this

usually written using kana alone

Refers to a thing near the speaker. Polite form; こっち is casual. Often used when presenting or choosing items.

こちらの商しょう品ひんがおすすめです。
I recommend this product.
こちらの方ほうが大おおきいです。
This one is bigger.

pronoun

I; me; we; us

usually written using kana alone

Humble first-person pronoun used in formal or business settings to refer to oneself or one's group. Often used on the phone or when introducing one's company.

こちらは田た中なかと申もうします。
This is Tanaka speaking.
こちらからまたご連れん絡らくいたします。
We will contact you again.

pronoun

this person

usually written using kana alone

Only with reading こちら

Polite way to refer to someone near the speaker, especially when introducing someone of equal or higher status. Restricted to the reading こちら.

こちらは山やま田だ様さまでいらっしゃいます。
This is Mr. Yamada.
こちらの方ほうが担たん当とう者しゃです。
This person is the person in charge.

Written forms

こちらUsage70%
Standard polite form; the most common spelling for all senses.
こっちUsage27%
Casual, everyday form; used in informal speech for all senses.
コチラUsage2%
此方Usage1%
rarely-used kanji form
- こちら
  Rare kanji form; almost always written in kana.
- こち
  out-dated reading
- こっち
こちUsage<1%
out-dated reading
Obsolete kana form; not used in modern Japanese.

Kanji

此this, current, next
方direction, person, alternative

Similar words

そちら
Refers to direction, place, thing, or person near the listener; the polite counterpart to そっち.
あちら
Refers to direction, place, thing, or person far from both speaker and listener; the polite counterpart to あっち.
どちら
Interrogative for direction, place, thing, or person; the polite counterpart to どっち.
こっち
Casual form of こちら; used in informal speech for all senses.

Etymology

Derived from the proximal demonstrative こ (this) combined with a directional suffix. The exact historical derivation is uncertain, but it is part of the systematic ko-so-a-do demonstrative series.