Asking Questions in Japanese
Updated: Feb 4, 2019
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こんにちは, everyone! Welcome back to Teach Me Japanese.
Today we are going to learn how to ask questions in Japanese.
さあ、始めましょう！
TODAY'S VOCABULARY
何（なに）----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- what
なんで ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- why; what for; how
なぜ ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ why; how
誰（だれ）----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- who
どれ ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ which(three or more)
どこ ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ where
どの ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ which(specific)
どっち ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- which way; which(of two)
どちら ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- which way; which one; who
どう ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ how
どんな ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- what; what kind of
どんなに -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- how much
どうやって --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- how; in what way
～か ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ question particle
～の ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ explanatory particle
Asking Questions in Casual/Plain Form
Questions can be phrased either using question words or not, depending on what you want to ask:
キャンディーちゃんの好きなスナックは何？
--->キャンディーちゃんのすきなスナックはなに？
--------->What is Candy-chan's favorite snack?
＊(It's strawberry ^^)＊
明日のパーティーに行く？
--->あしたのパーティーにいく？
--------->Are you going to the party tomorrow?
Questions, whether they have a question word or not, have an inflection in speech. Like in English, you raise your tone at the end of your sentence to let others know you are asking a question.
In written Japanese, you can indicate a question by adding either a question mark (?) or question particle か to the end of your sentence. Question particle か in casual speech is different from that in polite speech as it is usually only used when you are "wondering" about something or posing a question to yourself.
そうか
--->Is that so?/ I see (rhetorical)
か can also be used as in invitation to the other party to do something.
行こうか
--->いこうか
--------->Shall we go?
一緒にご飯食べないか
--->いっしょにごはんたべないか
---------->Won't you eat a meal with me?
In spoken Japanese, you can also use particle の at the end of a question sentence, indicating that you are asking for an explanation.
どうやって行けばいいの？
--->どうやっていけばいいの？
---------->How can I get there?
Asking Questions in Polite/ます form
Asking questions in polite form simply involves adding question particle か at the end of the sentence.
今はどこにいますか。
--->いまはどこにいますか。
---------->Where are you?
どちら様ですか。
--->どちらさまですか。
----------->Who are you?
＊more polite version of 誰ですか。＊
It is worth noting that in polite form when 何 comes just before です the reading changes from なに to なん.
田中さんの好きな映画は何ですか。
--->たなかさんのすきなえいがはなんですか。
----------->What is your favorite movie, Tanaka-san?
You can also combine か with negative form to extend invitations politely.
今週末にデートしませんか。
--->こんしゅうまつにデートしませんか。
----------->Won't you go on a date with me this weekend?
Asking questions in another language can seem quite intimidating, but the good news is that you don't have to change much about a sentence in Japanese to make it into a question sentence.
Speaking of questions, don't forget to leave yours below! (And if you're feeling fancy, try leaving a question in Japanese)
That's it for today. If you're still looking for a good beginner's textbook, make sure to check out the Genki Series, and also our resources tab for even more fun ways to study Japanese.
As always, がんばってね！
Lauren
