Ordering Ramen

There are three pointer words.

• これ [kore] This.
• あれ [are] That. "That" isn't near you or the person you are talking to.
• それ [sore] That. "That" by the other person you are talking to.

これは何ですか [kore wa nan desu ka]
What is this?

• これ [kore] means "this"
• は [wa] is the particle that means "as for.."
• 何ですか [nan desu ka] means "What is it?"
• Literally means "As for this, what is it?"

あれは何ですか [are wa nan desu ka]
What is that?

• あれ [are] means "that"
• Literally means "As for that, what is it?"

それは本です [sore wa hon desu]
That is a book.

• それ [sore] means "that"
• 本です [hon desu] means "It is a book."
• Literally means "As for that, it is a book"

• A: これは何ですか [kore wa nan desu ka]
  What is this?
• B: それはジュースです
  That is a juice.
• B: それは何ですか [sore wa nan desu ka]
  What is that?
• A: これはアメリカーノです
  This is an Americano.
• B: あれは何ですか [are wa nan desu ka]
  What is that?
• A: あれは本です
  That is a book.