あの

あの
pre-noun adjectival, interjection
that (over there, before noun)
1. that (over there, modifying a noun)
A demonstrative adjective used before nouns to indicate something far from both speaker and listener.
あの山(やま)は何(なん)ですか。
What is that mountain?
あの人(ひと)は誰(だれ)ですか。
Who is that person over there?
あの店(みせ)で買(か)いましょう。
Let's buy it at that store over there.
あの白(しろ)い建物(たてもの)は病院(びょういん)です。
That white building is a hospital.
子(こ)どもの時(とき)、あの川(かわ)で毎日(まいにち)泳(およ)いでいたのを今(いま)でもよく覚(おぼ)えています。
I still clearly remember swimming in that river every day when I was a child.
Shared memory usage
2. um, well (hesitation)
Used as a filler word when hesitating or getting someone's attention.
あの、すみません。
Um, excuse me.
Getting attention politely
あのー、ちょっといいですか。
Um, do you have a moment?
Drawn-out pronunciation
あの、今(いま)時間(じかん)ありますか。
Um, do you have time now?
あのー、これは何(なん)ですか。
Um, what is this?
あのー、昨日(きのう)のことなんですが、実(じつ)は私(わたし)もそう思(おも)っていました。
Um, about yesterday... actually I was thinking the same thing.
Hesitation before difficult topic

あの has two distinct uses: demonstrative and interjection.

SENSE 1 — DEMONSTRATIVE:

Modifies nouns to indicate something distant from both speaker and listener. Part of the こ・そ・あ・ど system:

  • この: this (near speaker)
  • その: that (near listener)
  • あの: that (far from both)
  • どの: which?

あの can also refer to shared knowledge — something both speaker and listener know about, even if not physically present: あの映画(えいが) (that movie [we both know]).

SENSE 2 — INTERJECTION:
Used as a polite filler when hesitating or getting someone's attention, similar to "um" or "excuse me" in English. Often drawn out as あのー for a softer, more tentative tone.

CONTRAST WITH あれ:

  • あの: always modifies a noun (あの人(ひと))
  • あれ: stands alone as a pronoun (あれは何(なん)ですか)
basic
Added 2026.1.7 21:19 · Revised 2026.3.27 8:41
00500/00915_ano