Saying “which” どちら or どれComparing things

Comparing two thingsどちら is the question word for comparing 2 items – literally “which of the two?”

の方 (ほう) is often added to comparisons of two things – literally “direction”

It’s like asking “Which of the two do you lean towards?”

The particleが follows bothどちら andどちらの方

Comparing more than two thingsどれ is the question word when there are more than 2 items – literally “which of several?”

The particleが follows どれ

The patternどちら

が adjective ですか。どちら の方

どれ

• Use the question word

• Add the particle が

• Use the adjective

• Finish the question withですか

Examplesどちらが高いですか。

Which (of the two) is more expensive?

どちらの方がおいしいですか。

Which of the two leans towards being more delicious?

どれがおもしろいですか。

Which of those is more interesting?

Indicating what you want to compareIf you want to be specific when asking someone which they prefer, give the options (nouns) and use the “and” particle, と, before asking “which is more X?”

To answer, you can just describe the noun. You can add の方, if you’d like.

The pattern

Noun A と Noun B とどちら

が＿＿ですか。どちらの方

• Give the nouns first, and follow them both with と

• Use your question word and add the particle が

• Use the adjective

• Finish the question withですか

Examples:にほんでは、みかんとオレンジとどちらが高いですか。 オレンジが少し高いです。

In Japan, which are more expensive, mandarins or oranges? Oranges are a little (more) expensive.

ケーキとパイとどちらの方がおいしいですか。 パイの方がおいしいです。

Which is more delicious, the cake or the pie? Pie is more delicious.

みのるくんととしきくんとどちらがせいが高いですか。 としきくんの方がずっとせが高いです。

Who is taller, Minoru or Toshiki? Toshiki is much taller.