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Question to Teacher: Can you tell me the difference between DOCHIRA and DOCCHI?
Course 1 Lesson 2: Which One? (New Words)

wayland

Post Date: 2004-03-15 10:40:38

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2004 Feb 22

Questions: 1
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All my books say to use Docchira for 'which of 2'. Also on Japanese TV I have seen people use Docchira. The course here uses Docchi. Is this just the informal version of Docchira?

I have never seen Docchi used before and was really surprised.

Thank you for your help.

Mark

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JFZ Teacher (Kanako)

Post Date: 2004-03-15 10:59:43

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2003 Mar 03

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Many textbooks use DOCHIRA (which one = formal version) and they don't teach DOCCHI (which one = informal version) like you said.

But it doesn't mean DOCCHI shouldn't be used to people who are in higher status. If you add DESU after the question word, it sounds polite enough.
Also Japanese people use DOCCHI more often. That is why YesJapan uses it.

For example;

1) どっち？(DOCCHI) = Which one? (Informal)
２）どっちですか。(DOCCHI DESUKA) = Which one is it? (Polite)
３）どちらですか。(DOCHIRA DESUKA) = Which one is it? (Formal)

Japanese announcers may have been taught to use DOCHIRA on TV because they need to use honorific (proper) words and expressions to their guests.
But in daily conversation, DOCCHI is used more often.

Ganbatte kudasai!

Kanako @ YesJapan

eye0807

Post Date: 2013-08-07 16:27:37

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2013 May 30

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Are dochira and docchi interchangable in the following sentences?
Dochira/docchi ga anata no usagi desu ka?

Niku to sakana to dochira/docchi ga suki desu ka?

Sensei, can I use dochira or docchi in either sentence and it will be grammatically correct usage, except that I should use dochira in formal situation and docchi with friends?

Thank you very much

Piyah