Grammar Info

N4 Lesson 3: 8/18

そういうLike that, Kind of

Structure

こういう + Noun
そういう + Noun
ああいう + Noun
どういう + Noun

Details

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About そういう

Coming from the こそあど言葉(ことば) family of words, こう, そう, ああ, or どう may be used with the verb 言(い)う to form an expression which literally means 'in the way of (A)'. (A) being 'this' これ, 'that' それ, 'that over there' あれ, or 'what' どれ (in questions). As with all pre-noun adjectival words, this expression will be used directly before a noun.

Although こう, そう, ああ, and どう share a relationship with これ, それ, あれ, and どれ, they are their own individual words, which each have a meaning similar to 'as such'. These words are all adverb when used by themselves.

Caution

そう (the adverb), should not be confused with そう, the auxiliary verb. そう (the adverb) comes from the kanji 然(そ)う, while the auxiliary verb does not have a kanji form.

Related

Examples

--:--

    そういう人(ひと)もいるよ。

    There are also people like that (you know).

    どういう意味(いみ)ですか。

    What do you mean? (Literally - What kind of meaning?)

    ああいう消(け)しゴムが好(す)き。

    I like erasers like that one over there.

    こういう人形(にんぎょう)がほしい。

    I want a doll like this.

    こういう仕事(しごと)をしなくちゃいけない。

    I have to do this kind of job.

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そういう – Grammar Discussion

Most Recent Replies (16 in total)

  • Jake

    Jake

    like that, kind of

    Structure

    • こういう + Noun
    • そういう + Noun
    • ああいう + Noun
    • どういう + Noun

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  • mrnoone

    mrnoone

    @jamie

    こういう、そういう、ああいう mean the same thing as このような、そのような、あのような (and their more casual variant こんな、そんな、あんな）but unlike them - they cannot be used as adverbs, and can only modify nouns. Also こんな、そんな、あんな can be used to criticize someone (そんな人、person like THAT). 〇〇いう do not have that meaning.

    In terms of formality: 〇んな＜〇〇いう＜〇〇いった(past form of 〇〇いう)<〇〇した＝〇〇よう

    So, こういう、そういう and ああいう describe respectively nature/kind/state/status etc of something that is close to the speaker, close to the hearer and in distance from the speaker and far from both.

    They can also refer to what speaker(こういう）, hearer（そういう） or a third person（ああいう） has said or done.

    俺は車を押してあげる。こういうのはどうですか？
    I will push the car. How about something like this?
    こういうのは食べたことないよ！
    I’ve never tried anything like this! (saying while eating)

    A:すみませんが、あいざわさんはこの辺りに住んでいますか？
    B:そういう名前の人はいません。
    A: Excuse, does Mr. Aizawa live in this vicinity?

  • jamie

    jamie

    Thank you very much. It helped a lot

  • nadrad314

    nadrad314

    Can you comment on when どういう is used? Thanks!

  • chrischriskurisu

    chrischriskurisu

    Can you kindly consider adding in a soft error or suggestion, upon submission of そういう for this question？
    The English translation provided is “I want to become that kind of person.” which could be either そういう or ああいう if I’m not mistaken. Sorry if I’m wrong about this! I’m still learning.

  • Pushindawood

    Pushindawood

    Sorry about that! I have updated the answers that throw hints/warnings to catch そういう. Cheers!

  • chrischriskurisu

    chrischriskurisu

    That’s so kind of you to make that accommodation. You’re no doubt very busy maintaining this app, so I really appreciate you taking the time on this. I know it will help me, and I hope it will also help others. Thank you again.

  • Ardeact

    Ardeact

    What’s with the lack of info in this section? It doesn’t state the difference between them…

  • ljoekelsoey

    ljoekelsoey

    As highlighted above, the difference between them is the same as the grammar points from N5 on to which they are built on top of - これ, それ, あれ, どれ

    • こういう + Noun - This kind of…
    • そういう + Noun - That kind of… (close to listener)
    • ああいう + Noun - That kind of… (far from both speaker and listener)
    • どういう + Noun - What kind of?
  • evandcs

    evandcs

    these last few days I got confused when to use そういう and そんな

    the resources for this point says tobira page 92, but it is just a small table with a few examples.

    on the grammar exercise book, how can I find this grammar point so I can practice more??

  • Superpnut

    Superpnut

    Why wouldn’t you say when to use each form in the lesson details? It just says “+ noun” with no other information for all four of them. I get it now thanks to @ljoekelsoey that it’s distance but without him I would just be guessing because it didn’t instantly click for me that this was これ、それ
    Could you guys please give some context in the lesson when each one should be used

  • mrnoone

    mrnoone

    @Superpnut
    I have added an explanation!

  • Superpnut

    Superpnut

    What is the difference between the parts of this grammar point and the parts of
    N4 Lesson 5: 9/14 そんな・こんな・あんな・どんな | Japanese Grammar SRS
    そんな + Noun
    こんな + Noun
    あんな + Noun
    どんな + Noun

    Do they mean the exact same thing?
    When I’m look at the example sentences the pairs seems to be translated the same
    Excluding そんな / そういう which is given as such as / like that , which means the same thing.

    I guess my question is, when do you use the one that ends いう and when do you use the one that ends な

  • wrt7MameLZE33wlmpCAV

    wrt7MameLZE33wlmpCAV

    @mrnoone Posted a great detailed explanation above, but I’ll pare it down to just the key points:

  • Superpnut

    Superpnut

    Oh sorry didn’t see that it was above

  • spikeabi

    spikeabi

    Is this also another issue?

    image740×282 21.5 KB
  • MagneticSpark

    MagneticSpark

    It looks like the reddit link in the Online Materials section has been edited/deleted

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