どちら~
dochira~
JLPT N5 Neutral
Formation
どちら + が/を + verb, どちら + が/を + adjective, どちら + が/を + noun
Used to ask about two choices or options.
When to use
'Which (of two)', and the polite 'where / which way'. For three or more, どれ or どの.
Explanation
The どちら grammar point is used to ask about two choices or options. It translates to 'which of the two' or simply 'which' in English. It is commonly used with question words like どちらが or どちらを and can be combined with verbs, adjectives, and nouns to ask about preferences or to make comparisons.
Example sentences
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Which of these two apples is delicious?
Kono futatsu no ringo, dochira ga oishii desu ka?
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Which dress would you like to wear?
Dochira no doresu wo kitai desu ka?
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Which of these two towns do you want to go to?
Kono futatsu no machi, dochira ni ikitai desu ka?
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Which movie do you think is interesting?
Dochira no eiga ga omoshiroi to omoimasu ka?
Comparison (More Than / Which / The Most)
- A。 では、~B。A. Dewa, ~BN5Indicates a contrast or comparison between A and B; 'As…
- A は B より~A wa B yori~N5Express a comparison between A and B; 'A is more/less than…
- A より B のほうが~A yori B no hou ga ~N5Used to compare two items; 'B is more ~ than A'.
- A は B ほど~ありませんA wa B hodo ~ arimasenN4Express that A is not as much as B; 'not as... as'…
- A が いちばん~A ga ichiban~N5Express the superlative degree; 'the most', 'the best'…
- Aと Bと どちら~A to B to dochira~N5Used to ask which of two alternatives is preferred or to…
- AとBと どっち〜A to B to docchi〜N5Asking which one; 'which', 'A or B'.
- どの Noundono NounN5Expresses 'which'; used to ask about specific items within…
- もっと〜motto〜N5Expresses 'more' or 'even more' when describing a…
- ~というより〜to iu yoriN3Express a comparison with preference; 'rather than', 'more…
- ~に比べて〜ni kurabeteN3Comparing to; in comparison with; as opposed to.
- Noun とは比べものにならない~to wa kurabemono ni naranaiN1Indicates something is not comparable; 'beyond comparison'.
- Verbる くらいなら〜ru kurai naraN1Expresses preference to avoid something: 'rather than...'…
Corpus examples (60)
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Which is more valuable, time or money?
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Which do you prefer, tea or coffee?
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Which would you rather have, tea or coffee?
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Which do you like better, tea or coffee?
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Who drives better, your father or your mother?
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You may choose either of the two books.
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You may take either of the two books.
彼らはフランス語とドイツ語とどちらがやさしいかについて口げんかをした。
They quarreled as to which was easier, French or German.
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Is it easier to love or hate someone?
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Which is cheaper, this or that?
君たちの意見はそれぞれ一長一短があるようだし、どちらが良いのかこの場では判断できないよ。
There are merits and demerits to both your opinions so I'm not going to decide right away which to support.
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The opinions were divided on which one is profitable.
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Who can speak English better, Yoko or Yumi?
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Which do you like better, English or music?
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Which do you like better, music or English?
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Do you like Japanese or English?
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Which is heavier, lead or gold?
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Which do you like better, rock music or classical music?
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Which do you like better, physics or chemistry?
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Which do you like better, summer or winter?
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Which do you like better, summer or winter?
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Which do you like better, summer or winter?
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Hasn't it been solved yet? Whose responsibility is it, the prefecture's or the country's?
外国語を話す時、間違えないことと、言いたいことを伝えることのどちらを重視しますか?
Which do you value more when speaking a foreign language? Making no mistakes, or conveying your message?
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Whichever you choose, make sure it is a good one.