それ

それ
pronoun
that
1. that (thing)
A demonstrative pronoun referring to something close to the listener, or something just mentioned.
What is that?
Please pass me that.
That's good. / That sounds good.
That's mine. Please give it back.
I was happy to hear that. I had been wanting to know, so I'm glad.

それ is a demonstrative pronoun that refers to something near the listener (in physical space) or to information just mentioned in conversation.

KO-SO-A-DO SYSTEM:

  • これ: this (near speaker)
  • それ: that (near listener, or just mentioned)
  • あれ: that over there (far from both)
  • どれ: which one?

GRAMMAR:
それ stands alone as a pronoun. To modify a noun, use その instead (その(ほん) = that book).

CONVERSATIONAL USE:

Very common for responding to what someone just said:

  • それはいいですね: That's good / That sounds nice
  • それは大変(たいへん)ですね: That's tough / That sounds hard
  • それはどういう意味(いみ)?: What does that mean?