Questions and Demonstratives
Describing Distant Objects and Shared Memories
The Japanese demonstrative word あんな modifies a noun to mean "that kind of" thing or something "like that". In physical space, it describes something that is far away from both the speaker and the listener. In conversation, it is used to express strong emotions—such as surprise, disgust, or admiration—about a topic, person, or memory that both people already know about.
01Main Functions
Modifying Distant Objects
When pointing to physical things, the word modifies a noun to describe characteristics of an object that is physically far away from both you and the listener.
あんな山に登りたいです。
(I) want to climb that kind of mountain.
Discussing Shared Knowledge
In conversation, it is used to refer to a situation, person, or experience that both you and the listener already know about.
あんな人は知りません。
(I) do not know that kind of person.
Expressing Strong Emotions
Because it refers to shared memories or extreme distant examples, it often carries a strong emotional tone, such as surprise, disgust, or admiration.
あんな話は嘘です。
That kind of story is a lie.
02Sentence Pattern
あんな + noun + に + verb + たいですか
あんな家に住みたいですか。
Do (you) want to live in that kind of house?
In the noun-modifier pattern, あんな goes directly before a noun. Use this frame to ask about an action directed toward a physically distant place or thing.
あんな + noun + は + na-adjective + です
あんな映画は嫌です。
(I) hate that kind of movie.
Use this frame to describe your emotional reaction or negative evaluation of a mutually known topic. The adjective 嫌 is a na-adjective.
noun + は + あんな + noun + ですか
田中さんはあんな人ですか。
Is Mr. Tanaka that kind of person?
Use this pattern to ask if a specific person matches the mutually understood characteristics of the shared subject.
あんな + noun + が + i-adjective + です
あんな車が欲しいです。
(I) want that kind of car.
Use this frame to express desire for a distant or shared object. The word 欲しい functions as an i-adjective in Japanese.
あんな + noun + を + verb + ましたか
あんな話を聞きましたか。
Did (you) hear that kind of story?
Use this pattern when the noun is the direct object of a verb, such as asking about a mutually known rumor.
あんな + の + は + verb + ました
あんなのは初めて見ました。
(I) have never seen anything like that before.
The particle の is a noun substitute that stands in for the understood noun. This allows you to talk about a mutually understood thing without repeating the specific word.
あんな + noun + で + verb + ました
あんな電車で帰りました。
(I) went home on that kind of train.
Use this frame to describe the means or method of an action using a distant or mutually known object.
03Example Sentences
あんな家に住みたいです。
(I) want to live in that kind of house.
Modifies a noun to describe a physically distant place that you desire to interact with.
あんな車は高いですか。
Is that kind of car expensive?
Used to ask a question about a distant or mutually known object using an i-adjective.
あんな映画は嫌いです。
(I) dislike that kind of movie.
Expresses a negative emotional reaction to a mutually known topic. The word 嫌い is a na-adjective.
田中さんはあんな人ですか。
Is Mr. Tanaka that kind of person?
Asks if a specific person matches the mutually understood characteristics of a shared subject.
あんな鞄が欲しいです。
(I) want that kind of bag.
Expresses desire for an object that is physically distant or shared in memory. 欲しい functions as an i-adjective.
あんな話を聞きました。
(I) heard that kind of story.
Modifies the direct object of a verb when discussing shared knowledge or rumors.
あんな靴を買いません。
(I) will not buy that kind of shoe.
Used in a negative sentence to reject a physically distant or mutually known item.
あんな所に行きますか。
Will (you) go to a place like that?
Modifies a noun representing a location to ask about future actions regarding a distant or known place.
あんな人は来ませんでした。
(That) kind of person did not come.
Describes a mutually known type of person in a past negative action context.
あんな猫がいますか。
Is there that kind of cat?
Modifies a subject to ask about the existence of an animate being.
あんな傘は私のじゃありません。
That kind of umbrella is not mine.
Refers to a distant object to deny ownership.
あんな電車で帰りました。
(I) went home on that kind of train.
Modifies a noun used with the particle で to indicate the means of transportation.
あんな日は出かけません。
(I) do not go out on that kind of day.
Describes an action or habit associated with a mutually known type of day.
04Comparisons
あんな vs. あの
While both refer to something physically distant or mutually known, あの is a direct pointer to a specific item ("that item"). In contrast, あんな describes the characteristics or type of that item ("that kind of item"). Use あの when identifying the exact object, and あんな when discussing its nature or expressing an emotional reaction to it.
あの車は高いですが、あんな車が欲しいです。
That car is expensive, but (I) want that kind of car.
あんな vs. そんな
Both translate to "that kind of," but they differ in perspective. Use そんな for things physically closer to the listener, or for information that the listener just introduced. Use あんな when the object is far away from both of you, or when you are referring to a shared memory that you both already know about.
そんな話は知りませんが、あんな話は嘘です。
(I) do not know that kind of story (you just told me), but that kind of story (we both know) is a lie.
あんな vs. こんな
Both words describe characteristics, but they relate to different distances. こんな means "this kind of" and is used for things physically close to the speaker, or ideas the speaker is currently introducing. あんな means "that kind of" and is strictly for things distant from both parties or shared knowledge from the past.
こんな鞄は好きですが、あんな鞄は嫌いです。
(I) like this kind of bag, but (I) dislike that kind of bag.
05Nuance and Usage
The demonstrative modifier あんな primarily relies on the concept of distance, but this distance can be either physical or psychological. In physical space, it strictly refers to something that is far away from both the speaker and the listener. For instance, if you are both looking across a valley at a strange building, using this word emphasizes that the object is distant from both of you. However, its most powerful use in conversation is psychological: it points to shared knowledge. When you talk about a past event or a person you both know, using this word signals that you are referencing a mutual memory rather than introducing new information.
Because it often deals with shared memories or extreme distant examples, あんな frequently carries a strong emotional tone. Speakers use it to express vivid reactions such as surprise, disgust, admiration, or disbelief about a mutual topic.
Another very common conversational pattern is the use of the particle の as a noun substitute to form あんなの. This allows you to talk about "that kind of thing" without repeating a specific noun. For example, saying あんなのは初めて見ました ("(I) have never seen anything like that before") treats the understood noun as the topic marked by は. This structure is natural and grammatically valid, showing how demonstrative modifiers can seamlessly pair with noun substitutes in everyday speech.
06Core Explanation
The Japanese demonstrative word あんな modifies a noun to mean "that kind of" thing or something "like that".
The Japanese demonstrative word あんな is a noun modifier used to describe the nature, type, or characteristics of something. It translates roughly as "that kind of" or "like that." It belongs to the demonstrative family, alongside words like こんな and そんな. In the standard noun-modifier pattern, it goes directly before a noun.
Japanese demonstratives rely on the physical positions of the speaker and the listener. When talking about physical space, あんな is used for things that are far away from both you and the person you are talking to. If both of you are looking at a strange building off in the distance, you would use this word to say something like, "(I) do not want to live in that kind of house."
Beyond physical distance, あんな plays a crucial role in conversation when discussing shared knowledge. It is used to refer to abstract ideas, past events, or people that both the speaker and the listener already know about. If you and your friend both witnessed a bizarre event yesterday, you would use this word to talk about "that kind of event," pointing to your mutual memory.
Because it often points to shared memories or extreme distant examples, あんな frequently carries a strong emotional tone. Speakers use it to express surprise, disgust, admiration, or disbelief about a mutual topic.
It is important to understand the difference between this word and similar demonstratives. While あの points directly to a specific distant item, あんな describes the type or characteristics of that item. Furthermore, while both this word and そんな can mean "that kind of," そんな is used when the information belongs to or was just introduced by the listener. In contrast, you use あんな when both of you share the context and memory.
07Common Mistakes
Wrong
田中さんはあんなですか。
Correct
田中さんはあんな人ですか。
Why: In its standard noun-modifier use, あんな goes with a noun. It cannot stand alone as the predicate before ですか, so supply a noun such as 人 to describe "that kind of person."
Wrong
あんなの家は大きいです。
Correct
あんな家は大きいです。
Why: The modifier あんな attaches directly to a noun without needing the particle の in between. Using あんなの directly before another noun is ungrammatical.
Wrong
あんなシャツはどこで買いましたか。
Correct
そんなシャツはどこで買いましたか。
Why: When asking about an object that is physically close to the listener, use そんな. The word あんな is only for things distant from both the speaker and the listener.
Wrong
あれ車は高いですか。
Correct
あんな車は高いですか。
Why: The word あれ is a standalone pronoun and cannot attach directly to a noun. To say "that kind of car," use the noun modifier あんな. If you mean "that exact car," use あの.
Wrong
あんなに家は大きいです。
Correct
あんな家は大きいです。
Why: When modifying a noun to say "that kind of house," use the noun modifier あんな directly before the noun. The adverbial form あんなに is used to modify verbs or adjectives, meaning "to that extent" or "that much."
Wrong
あんなは私のじゃありません。
Correct
あれは私のじゃありません。
Why: Because あんな is a noun modifier, it cannot stand alone as the subject marked by は. To say "that is not mine," use the standalone pronoun あれ.
08Questions
Can I use あんな by itself without a noun?
In the noun-modifier pattern, あんな goes before a noun. If you want to use it without repeating a specific noun, use a noun substitute like the particle の to say あんなの.
What is the difference between あんな and あの?
Both refer to something distant or mutually known, but they serve different functions. The word あの is a direct pointer to a specific item ("that item"), while あんな describes the characteristics or type of that item ("that kind of item").
Why do people say あんなの instead of just あんな?
The particle の acts as a noun substitute meaning "thing". Saying あんなの ("that kind of thing") allows you to talk about a distant object or shared memory without repeating the specific noun.
09Mini Practice
- 01
(Both speaker and listener are looking at a weird insect far away on the ceiling) ____虫は嫌いです。
- 02
(Looking at a distant, strangely shaped car, expressing desire for that type of vehicle) （あの / あんな）車が欲しいです。
- 03
(I) want to live in that kind of house.
Tap the pieces in the correct order.
- 04
(The listener is holding a strange pen) あんなペンはどこで買いましたか。
- 05
(Discussing a shared memory of a bizarre event) ____話は嘘です。
- 06
Is Mr. Tanaka that kind of person?
Tap the pieces in the correct order.
- 07
(Both looking at a strange object far away) （あんな / あれ）のは初めて見ました。
- 08
(Two friends recalling a scary roller coaster they both rode) あんなのは嫌です。
Summary
Learner Summary
- The demonstrative word あんな modifies a noun to mean "that kind of" or something "like that".
- In physical space, it describes an object that is distant from both the speaker and the listener.
- In conversation, it is used to refer to shared knowledge or a mutual memory that both parties already know about.
- It frequently carries a strong emotional tone, allowing speakers to express surprise, disgust, admiration, or disbelief.
- While it normally requires a following noun, the particle の can stand in as a substitute to form あんなの ("that kind of thing").
10Study Map
Study Info
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