Question words in Japanese
By mastering these question words, your conversational skills will be much stronger.
Kanji | Hiragana | Romaji | Meaning |
いくら | ikura | how much (money) | |
いつ | itsu | when | |
誰 | だれ | dare | who |
どう | dou | how | |
どうして | doushite | why | |
どうやって | dou yatte | how | |
どこ | doko | where | |
どの | dono | which | |
どのくらい | donokurai | how much (quantity); how long | |
どれ | dore | which one; which (of three or more) | |
どんな | donna | what kind of | |
何 | なに | nani | what |
何色 | なにいろ | nani iro | what colour |
いかが | ikaga | how (about) | |
なぜ | naze | why; how | |
何 with a measure word | なん with a measure word | ||
何月 | なんがつ | nangatsu | which month; what month |
何時 | なんじ | nanji | what time; which hour |
何日 | なんにち | nan nichi | what date; what day; how many days |
何曜日 | なんようび | nan youbi | what day?; what day of the week? |
い つ (itsu) : when
いつ きました か?
itsu kimashita ka?
When did you come?
ど こ (doko) : where
どこ から きました か?
doko kara kimashita ka?
Where did you come from?
どうして (doushite) : why
どうして きました か?
doushite kimashita ka?
Why did you come?
な ぜ (naze) : why
なぜ
naze?
Why?
だ れ (dare) : who
だれが きました か。
dare ga kimashita ka?
Who came?
何 (nani) : what
なにを買いましたか。
nani wo kaimashita ka.
What did you buy?
Main points:
Even with the question word a ka is used. (Except in casual spoken Japanese.)
The question word is at the beginning, but after the topic particle wa if there is one.
あなた は だれ です か?
anata wa dare desu ka?
Who are you? (the question word dare is after the wa)