A collective term for the Japanese ko-so-a-do series of demonstratives (e.g. kore, sore, are, dore), which mark distance and speaker/listener relations.
日本語教育では、こそあどの使い分けを初級で教えることが多い。
In Japanese education, the ko-so-a-do distinctions are often taught at the beginner level.
こそあどの例として、これ・それ・あれ・どれが挙げられる。
Examples of the ko-so-a-do series include kore, sore, are, and dore.