Translation and Meaning of: 彼此 - arekore

If you have ever found yourself trying to explain something without being able to define exactly what it is, you may have used an expression like 彼此[あれこれ] without even realizing it. This Japanese word, which can be translated as "this and that" or "one thing or another," is one of those versatile terms that the Japanese love to throw into everyday conversations. In this article, we will uncover the curious origin of the kanji as well as how it appears in everyday situations in Japan — and why it is so useful for those who want to sound natural in the language.

In addition to the meaning and translation, you will discover how the Japanese use あれこれ to avoid unnecessary details or when they are indecisive. And if you're worried about memorizing, don't worry: at the end, we provide an infallible tip that even the most forgetful students love. Oh, and of course, since Suki Nihongo is the largest online Japanese dictionary, we included ready-made examples for you to put in Anki and boost your studies.

The Origin and the Kanji of 彼此

The kanji 彼此 are an interesting case of "semantic borrowing." Originally, 彼 (あれ) means "that" or "he," while 此 (これ) means "this" or "these." Together, they form a pair that represents the idea of "various things" or "diverse matters." The reading あれこれ, however, is an example of kun'yomi (Japanese reading) applied to less literal combinations — something like taking two opposites and creating a new meaning.

Interestingly, this construction is not exclusive to Japanese. In classical Chinese, 彼此 (bǐcǐ) has a similar use, indicating "both sides" or "reciprocal." The Japanese adapted the term but gave it a more colloquial tone. If you have ever seen an elderly person grumbling about あれこれうるさい ("complaining about this and that"), you have noticed how the word has taken on a life of its own in everyday Japan.

Everyday Lies: When the Japanese Say "Arekore"

Imagine a common scene: someone arrives late and, instead of giving long explanations, just says あれこれあって ("for a bunch of reasons"). This is the magic of the word — it allows you to skip tedious details without sounding rude. In offices, it’s common to hear phrases like あれこれ考えたけど ("I thought about various things, but..."), almost a code for "we discussed a thousand options and didn't decide anything."

But be careful: in formal contexts, overusing あれこれ can give the impression that you are being evasive. Once, a friend of mine used it in a job interview ("I have あれこれ experience") and the interviewer responded, "Which ones, exactly?". The tip here is to balance — the word is perfect for casual conversations, but in professional emails, prefer to list the "this and that" clearly.

Tips for Memorizing and Not Getting Mixed Up

A fun way to reinforce あれこれ is to associate it with a back-and-forth movement. Think of the kanji as two people pointing in opposite directions (彼 pointing away, 此 pointing close). When studying, try creating flashcards with real examples: write the sentence あれこれ買いすぎた ("I bought a bunch of things") and stick it on the fridge every time you overdo it on shopping.

Another trick is to remember that あれこれ often appears with verbs like 言う (to say), する (to do) or 考える (to think). If you hear someone on the Tokyo subway sighing and saying あれこれ言わないで ("don't complain about everything"), you already know — it’s the Japanese equivalent of "stop complaining." So, are you ready to use this little word like a native?

Vocabulary

Expand your vocabulary with related words:

Synonyms and similar words

• 彼 (kare) - He, boyfriend
• これ (kore) - This, this

彼此

Romaji: arekore
Kana: あれこれ
Type: reciprocal pronoun
L: jlpt-n2, jlpt-n1

Translation / Meaning: One thing or another; this and that; this or that

Meaning in English: one thing or another;this and that;this or that

Definition: A word that refers to another person.

Example Sentences - (彼此) arekore

See below some example sentences:

彼此を大切にしましょう。

Karekore wo taisetsu ni shimashou

Let's value each other.

Let's value it.

• 彼此 (karera kore) - a Japanese term that means "one another"
• を (wo) - a Japanese particle that indicates the object of an action
• 大切 (taisetsu) - An adjective in Japanese that means "important" or "precious"
• に (ni) - a Japanese particle that indicates the direction or target of an action
• しましょう (shimashou) - A polite and courteous form of the Japanese verb "suru" which means "let's do"