ここ

ここ is a demonstrative pronoun meaning "here" or "this place" - a location near the speaker.

Ko-so-a-do place series

• ここ: here (near speaker)
• そこ: there (near listener)
• あそこ: over there (far from both)
• どこ: where (question)

Common patterns

• ここに: here (location)
• ここで: here (action takes place)
• ここから: from here
• ここまで: up to here, this far
• この辺(へん): around here

Unlike この (this), which must modify a noun, ここ can stand alone as a complete noun phrase.