その: point to that noun or pick up the noun just mentioned

その goes directly before a noun and identifies which noun you mean. It has two everyday jobs. It can point to a noun on the listener's side, such as the bag the listener is holding. It can also pick up a noun, idea, or situation that has just been mentioned. In both jobs, the noun must follow: その本(ほん), その話(はなし), その案(あん).

This shape matters from the start. Use その + noun, but use それ when the word stands by itself. English can translate both as “that,” so translating one word at a time hides the choice Japanese requires.

The ordinary spelling is その in kana. JMdict lists 其(そ)の as a rare kanji form, and Kotobank also presents 其(そ)の while explaining the modern word. Recognize the spelling in older or stylized text, but write その in normal messages, forms, and conversation.

Two ways a noun becomes “that noun”

In a face-to-face scene, その often identifies something near the listener. If your friend is holding a notebook, そのノート means “that notebook by you.” The Japan Foundation's Irodori guide places その N in the listener-side series with それ, そこ, and そちら. Erin's Challenge teaches the same こ・そ・あ・ど system for indicating things.

Conversation also creates a listener-side reference without a physical object. Once someone mentions a file, plan, call, or problem, その can attach to the noun when the next speaker responds: そのファイル, その案(あん), その問題(もんだい). NINJAL describes the そ-series as a neutral way to refer back to something in the discourse. This is why その appears constantly in texts, meetings, shops, and ordinary planning.

Use この for a noun on the speaker's side, その for a noun on the listener's side or just introduced, and あの for a noun away from both people or held in shared memory. Real scenes can shift the boundary. When two people stand together, something a little away from both may be あの rather than その. Choose from the shared viewpoint, not from an automatic English “this” or “that.”

One blue file moves through the conversation

Aya, Ken, and Miho are preparing a small neighborhood information session. The story begins the evening before, when Ken finds a missing file at home.

Ken introduces the file first. Aya can now refer back to it with その, even though neither person can see the other's room.

そのファイル is natural here because “the blue file” is already active in the exchange. Aya could repeat 青(あお)いファイル, but その avoids unnecessary repetition while keeping the noun explicit.

The next morning, Ken arrives holding the file. Now the same form also matches the physical viewpoint: the file is in the listener's hands.

The extra adjective is useful because Ken might be carrying several things. その identifies the listener-side item, and 青(あお)い confirms which feature matters.

Miho then arrives with a printed notice in her own hand. Her word and Aya's word change with the viewpoint.

Miho says この紙(かみ) because the paper is on her side. Aya answers with その紙(かみ) because it is on Miho's side. This shift is one of the most useful real-life patterns to notice in shops, classrooms, and video calls.

After the room is ready, Ken suggests doing the event again next month.

There is no physical “idea” near Ken. その案(あん) refers neutrally to the proposal he has just put into the conversation. In everyday speech, the particle after a topical noun is often omitted, so その案(あん)、いいですね sounds lighter than その案(あん)はいいですね while remaining polite through ですね.

The meeting ends, and the story moves to its final action.

そのあと means “after that” and connects the cleanup to the event just described. Other high-frequency combinations work the same way. そのとき means “at that time,” その話(はなし) means “that matter or story,” and そのまま means “as it is.” In service situations, そのままで大丈夫(だいじょうぶ)です is a natural way to say that no change is needed.

A separate hesitation use

Kotobank also records その as an interjection used while a speaker searches for words. In that use it behaves more like “well” or “um” and does not identify a following noun.

This hesitation use is real, but あの and ええと are often more immediately useful fillers in ordinary conversation. Keep it separate from the main demonstrative pattern. A hesitation その may stand alone; demonstrative その still requires a noun.

Referring to people without sounding careless

Grammatically, その人(ひと) can mean “that person” near the listener or the person just mentioned. It is neutral, not automatically rude, but it carries no honorific respect. When speaking politely about an adult you do not know, その方(かた) is often safer. Once you know a name or role, 田中(たなか)さん, 先生(せんせい), or 担当(たんとう)の方(かた) usually sounds more natural than repeatedly calling someone その人(ひと).

The same principle applies beyond people: repeat the noun when it helps. If several plans are being discussed, その案(あん) may be unclear, so say 来月(らいげつ)の案(あん) or name the plan. Demonstratives save repetition only when the listener can recover the reference easily.

The file story follows the order a listener experiences the word. Ken first introduces a file. Aya answers with そのファイル. When Ken holds it, その also matches his physical side. Miho's この紙(かみ) becomes Aya's その紙(かみ), and a newly spoken proposal becomes その案(あん). The form stays simple: その always leads into the noun it identifies.