Grammar Info

N5 Lesson 7: 4/13

どの

Which (of three or more), What (kind)

どの precedes a noun, どれ follows a noun

Structure Legend

Structure

Demonstrative, どの + Noun

Details

  • Part of Speech

    Fixed Adjective

  • Word Type

    Independent Word

  • Register

    Standard

  • 品詞

    連体詞

  • 単語の種類

    自立語

  • 使用域

    一般

About どの

どの is classified as a 'pre-noun adjectival' in Japanese. These are a special type of word that do not conjugate, which means that they will always appear in the same form. どの comes from the same family of words as どれ and どこ, and is used for asking about 'which' thing someone will choose.
  • どの()(もの)いい
    Which drink would you like?
  • どの(いろ)でもいい
    Whatever color is okay. (Literally 'even any of whichever color is good')
In these examples, we can see that どの may be used to ask a question, or it may also be used in a similar way to 'whatever', or 'whichever' in English.
Caution
どの is only used when there are 3 or more possible choices, and どっち)・どちら) will be used when there are only 2 possible choices.
  • (あか)(あお)どっちいい
    Do you prefer red or blue?
  • どの(いろ)()
    What color do you like?
In the first example, the speaker is asking specifically about 2 options 'red or blue', so どっち will be used. However, in the second example, since the answer could be any color, どの will be used instead.

Examples

  • どの寿司屋(すしや)いいです

    Which sushi restaurant is good?

  • どのレストラン()

    Which restaurant will you go to?

  • どのブランド(えら)びます

    Which brand will you choose?

  • どのパソコン()です

    Which computer do you like?

  • どの(ちゃ)()みます

    Which tea will you drink?

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    • [DBJG] A Dictionary of Basic Japanese Grammar

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どの – Grammar Discussion

Most Recent Replies (1 in total)

  • LotBlind

    LotBlind

    About 3 years ago

    Feels a bit confusing to say “done follows a noun” since it doesn’t have to come after anything.

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