Questions and Demonstratives
Describing That Kind of Thing Near the Listener
The word そんな modifies a noun to mean "that kind of" or "such a" something. It belongs to the Japanese demonstrative system, specifically pointing to physical objects close to your listener or topics they just brought up in conversation. You will also often hear it used as a sudden exclamation to express emotional reactions like surprise or disbelief toward what someone just said.
01Main Functions
Physical Objects Near the Listener
When you want to describe or ask about an object physically closer to the person you are talking to, attach this word directly before the noun.
そんな鞄はどこで買いましたか。
Where did (you) buy that kind of bag?
Topics Just Mentioned by the Listener
When your conversation partner brings up a story, idea, or situation, you can use this word to refer back to their topic as "that kind of" thing.
そんな話は知りませんでした。
(I) did not know that kind of story.
Emotional Reactions
You can use this word to express surprise, disbelief, or strong feelings about a topic someone just introduced.
そんなことを言わないでください。
Please do not say such a thing.
02Sentence Pattern
そんな + noun + を + verb
そんな鞄をどこで買いましたか。
Where did (you) buy that kind of bag?
This pattern shows an action done to a physical object near the listener.
そんな + noun + は i-adjective + です
そんな話は珍しいです。
That kind of story is rare.
Use this structure to describe the qualities of an abstract topic or idea that the listener just mentioned.
そんな + noun + が i-adjective + です
そんなカメラが欲しいです。
(I) want that kind of camera.
Use this pattern when the listener has an interesting item, and you want to express your desire for an item of the same type.
そんな + noun + は verb
そんな雑誌は読みません。
(I) do not read that kind of magazine.
When denying an action related to something the listener brought up, the particle は is often used instead of を to highlight the topic.
そんな + こと + を + verb
そんなことを言わないでください。
Please do not say such a thing.
Attaching the abstract noun こと allows you to refer to actions, ideas, or situations the listener just introduced.
そんな + noun + が na-adjective + です
私はそんな音楽が好きです。
I like that kind of music.
Use this pattern to express your preference about a category of things the listener mentioned. Note that the na-adjective without な is used directly before です.
そんな！
そんな！
No way!
Standalone そんな！ is a valid emotional exclamation to express surprise or disbelief at what someone just told you.
03Example Sentences
そんな鞄はどこで買いましたか。
Where did (you) buy that kind of bag?
A basic question asking about a physical object near the listener.
そんな鞄は高いですか。
Is that kind of bag expensive?
Asking about the qualities of an item the listener possesses using an i-adjective.
そんな話は知りませんでした。
(I) did not know that kind of story.
Reacting to a topic the listener just brought up using a negative past tense verb.
そんな雑誌は読みません。
(I) do not read that kind of magazine.
Stating a habitual action regarding a type of item the listener mentioned.
私はそんな音楽が好きです。
I like that kind of music.
Expressing a preference for a category of things the listener just introduced using a na-adjective.
そんなカメラが欲しいです。
(I) want that kind of camera.
Expressing desire for an item similar to what the listener has.
そんなことを言わないでください。
Please do not say such a thing.
Using the abstract noun こと to ask the listener not to repeat a shocking or unpleasant statement.
田中さんはそんな人じゃありません。
Mr. Tanaka is not that kind of person.
Denying a characterization of someone based on what the listener just suggested.
そんなシャツを着て、どこへ行きますか。
Where are (you) going wearing that kind of shirt?
Commenting on the listener's current appearance before asking a question.
そんな！
No way!
A standalone exclamation expressing strong surprise or disbelief at what the listener just said.
そんな仕事は大変ですね。
(That) kind of job is demanding, isn't it?
Sympathizing with the listener about a situation they just described using a na-adjective.
そんな映画を見ましたか。
Did (you) see that kind of movie?
Asking if the listener has experienced a specific type of media they were discussing.
そんな所に何がありますか。
What is in a place like that?
Asking about a location near the listener or a location the listener just described.
そんな自転車は便利ですか。
Is that kind of bicycle convenient?
Asking about the usefulness of an item the listener is using.
04Comparisons
こんな vs. そんな
こんな means "this kind of" and describes something physically close to the speaker or a topic the speaker is introducing. そんな means "that kind of" and describes something close to the listener or a topic the listener just brought up.
こんな鞄を買いました。
(I) bought this kind of bag.
そんな鞄は高いですか。
Is that kind of bag expensive?
あんな vs. そんな
あんな means "that kind of (over there)" and describes something physically distant from both the speaker and the listener, or a topic that both people already share knowledge of. そんな describes something close to the listener, or information that belongs to the listener because they just mentioned it.
あんな家が欲しいです。
(I) want that kind of house over there.
そんな話は知りませんでした。
(I) did not know that kind of story.
その vs. そんな
その means "that" and points directly to a specific item near the listener. そんな means "that kind of" or "such a" and describes the category, type, or nature of the item rather than just pointing to the specific item itself.
そのカメラは新しいです。
That camera is new.
そんなカメラが欲しいです。
(I) want that kind of camera.
05Nuance and Usage
In the Japanese Ko-So-A-Do demonstrative system, そんな belongs to the "So" group, which anchors it to the listener's domain. When you use this word, you are acknowledging that the object or the information "belongs" to the person you are talking to. In a physical space, this means pointing to something the listener is holding, wearing, or standing near, focusing on its type or category rather than just identifying the specific object.
In conversation, this listener-focused proximity becomes a powerful way to react to what others say. When your speaking partner shares an idea, tells a story, or explains a situation, they have placed that topic into the conversational space. By using そんな to refer back to their topic, you are saying "that kind of thing you just brought up." This makes it incredibly common in daily dialogue for expressing agreement, denial, or personal preferences regarding someone else's statement.
Beyond the noun-modifier pattern, you will often hear this word used all by itself as a sudden exclamation: そんな！ In this emotional usage, it expresses strong surprise, shock, or disbelief at what the listener just revealed, roughly translating to "No way!" or "That cannot be!" Standalone そんな！ is a separate valid use, acting as a natural reflex to unexpected news.
06Core Explanation
The word そんな modifies a noun to mean "that kind of" or "such a" something.
The Japanese word そんな is a demonstrative adjective used to mean "that kind of" or "such a." It belongs to the "so" series of the Ko-So-A-Do system, which means it is anchored to the listener's domain. Unlike plain pronouns that replace a noun entirely, this word acts as a modifier and attaches directly to a noun to describe its type or nature.
When referring to physical space, you use it for objects that are physically close to the person you are talking to. If your conversation partner is holding an interesting camera or wearing a unique shirt, you would use this word to say "that kind of camera" or "that kind of shirt." It shifts the focus from the specific item to the category or type of that item.
Beyond physical distance, this word is highly common for conversational proximity. When your listener brings up a new topic, tells a story, or suggests an idea, that information "belongs" to them. You can use it to refer back to what they just said, making it easy to react with phrases like "(I) do not know that kind of story" or "please do not say such a thing."
It is helpful to compare it to its demonstrative siblings. You use こんな ("this kind of") for things close to you or topics you are introducing yourself. You use あんな ("that kind of over there") for things that are distant from both of you, or for shared memories that you both already know about.
In the noun-modifier pattern, this word attaches directly to a noun. While it does not act as a plain pronoun to mean "that" (use それ instead), standalone そんな！ and noun-substitute そんなの are separate valid uses. For example, you will often hear the exclamation そんな！ when someone receives shocking or unbelievable news. This expresses strong surprise or disbelief, completely distinct from its normal grammatical role.
07Common Mistakes
Wrong
そんなはだめです。
Correct
それはだめです。
Why: In the noun-modifier pattern, そんな attaches directly to a noun. If you want to say "that is bad" using a plain pronoun, use それ. Note that standalone そんな！ and noun-substitute そんなの are separate valid uses, so the noun-like phrase そんなのはだめです is also acceptable, where は marks it as the topic.
Wrong
（While holding a shirt）そんなシャツを買いました。
Correct
（While holding a shirt）こんなシャツを買いました。
Why: Because you are holding the shirt, it is in your physical domain. You must use こんな ("this kind of") for things close to the speaker, not そんな.
Wrong
（Remembering a past event together）そんな時は楽しかったですね。
Correct
（Remembering a past event together）あんな時は楽しかったですね。
Why: When reminiscing about a shared experience that is distant in time or space from both the speaker and listener, あんな is the natural choice.
Wrong
そんなの本を読みました。
Correct
そんな本を読みました。
Why: Demonstrative adjectives like そんな attach directly to nouns. You do not need the particle の to connect them to the following word.
Wrong
（After a friend tells a story）どんな話は珍しいです。
Correct
（After a friend tells a story）そんな話は珍しいです。
Why: どんな is a question word meaning "what kind of". To react to a story your friend just told and say "that kind of story", you must use そんな.
Wrong
それ人が好きです。
Correct
そんな人が好きです。
Why: それ is a pronoun that replaces a noun and cannot be placed directly before another noun like 人. To describe "that kind of person", you must use the modifier そんな.
08Questions
What is the difference between その and そんな?
その means "that" and points directly to a specific item near the listener (for example, そのシャツ means "that specific shirt"). そんな means "that kind of" and refers to the type, style, or category of the item (for example, そんなシャツ means "a shirt of that style").
Can I use そんな by itself without a noun?
In the noun-modifier pattern, it attaches directly to a noun. While it does not act as a plain pronoun to mean "that" (use それ instead), standalone そんな！ is a separate valid use. You will often hear it as an exclamation to express shock or disbelief, meaning "No way!"
I heard someone say そんなの. Is that correct?
Yes. By attaching the noun substitute の, you create the noun phrase そんなの, which means "that kind of thing." This is a valid noun-like phrase and is very common in casual speech. If you use it in a sentence, it acts like a noun, so you might hear things like そんなのはだめです (That kind of thing is no good), where は marks it as the topic.
09Mini Practice
- 01
Choose the correct word to complete the sentence. (Addressing a friend holding a unique bag) （ ）鞄はどこで買いましたか。
- 02
Fill in the blank to say "I do not read that kind of magazine." (Reacting to a magazine the listener mentioned) （ ）雑誌は読みません。
Tap the pieces in the correct order.
- 03
Is this Japanese sentence natural or unnatural in the given context? (A person points to a house far away on a distant hill) そんな家が欲しいです。
- 04
Translate this sentence into Japanese: "Please do not say such a thing."
Tap the pieces in the correct order.
- 05
Fill in the blank to say "Mr. Tanaka is not that kind of person." 田中さんは（ ）人じゃありません。
Tap the pieces in the correct order.
- 06
Choose the correct word to complete the sentence. (Reacting to a surprising story the listener just told) （ ）話は知りませんでした。
- 07
Translate this sentence into Japanese: "I like that kind of music." (Reacting to a band the listener recommended)
Tap the pieces in the correct order.
- 08
Is this Japanese response natural or unnatural in the given context? (Listener: "I lost my wallet and my phone today.") (Speaker) そんな！
Summary
Learner Summary
- そんな means "that kind of" or "such a" and modifies a noun to describe its type or nature.
- It is used for physical objects that are close to the person you are speaking to.
- In conversation, it is frequently used to refer back to a topic, idea, or story that the listener just brought up.
- In the noun-modifier pattern, it attaches directly to a noun (for example, そんな鞄 or そんなこと). The noun-substitute form そんなの is also a valid noun-like phrase.
- Unlike その, which points to a specific item ("that item"), そんな focuses on the category or characteristics of the item ("that kind of item").
- You can say そんな！ as a standalone exclamation to express shock or disbelief at what you just heard.
10Study Map
Study Info
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