Understanding Japanese Question Words

When you learn Japanese grammar, especially how to ask questions, there are some important words to know. These words help you ask something, whether you want more information, clarification, or details. Let's take a look at these question words!

Important Question Words

1. 何 (なに, nani) - What
   Example: これは何ですか？ (Kore wa nani desu ka?) - What is this?

2. 誰 (だれ, dare) - Who
   Example: 彼は誰ですか？ (Kare wa dare desu ka?) - Who is he?

3. どこ (doko) - Where
   Example: トイレはどこですか？ (Toire wa doko desu ka?) - Where is the restroom?

4. いつ (itsu) - When
   Example: いつ行きますか？ (Itsu ikimasu ka?) - When are we going?

5. どの (dono) - Which (used before nouns)
   Example: どの本が好きですか？ (Dono hon ga suki desu ka?) - Which book do you like?

6. どれ (dore) - Which (used for choices)
   Example: これとそれはどれがいいですか？ (Kore to sore wa dore ga ii desu ka?) - Which one is better, this one or that one?

7. なぜ (naze) - Why
   Example: 彼はなぜ来ませんでしたか？ (Kare wa naze kimasen deshita ka?) - Why didn’t he come?

8. どうして (doushite) - Why (more casual)
   Example: どうして遅れましたか？ (Doushite okuremashita ka?) - Why were you late?

How to Ask Questions

In Japanese, to make a question, you usually add the word か (ka) at the end of your sentence.

For example:

• Statement: これはペンです。 (Kore wa pen desu.) - This is a pen.
• Question: これはペンですか？ (Kore wa pen desu ka?) - Is this a pen?

These question words are not just helpful for talking. They also help you understand everyday conversations. Learning them is a big step in your journey to getting better at Japanese.

Happy learning!