Question words in Japanese
By mastering these question words, your conversational skills will be much stronger.
Kanji | Hiragana | Romaji | Meaning |
だれ | dare | Who | |
どこ | doko | Where | |
何 | なに | nani | What |
いつ | itsu | When | |
どうして | doushite | Why | |
なぜ | naze | Why |
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)