Japanese Lesson 4

audio file

ask questions
shitsumon wo suru


where
doko

Tokyo-eki wa doko desu ka? (Where is the Tokyo station?)
(Anata wa) ima doko ni imasu ka? (Where are you now?)
(Anata wa) doko ni sunde imasu ka? (Where do you live?)
*we often omit the subject like anata, watashi, sore, and so on*


when
itsu

(Watashitachi wa) itsu ae masu ka?(when can we meet?)
(Sore wa) itsu desu ka?(when is it?)


what
nani / nan

nani ga suki desu ka? (what do you like?)
sore wa nan desu ka? (what is it?)
nan no tame ni? (what for?)


who
dare / donata (dare is the normal form/donata is the polite form)

donata desu ka? (who is it?)
kanojho wa dare desu ka? (who is she?)
dare ga sono paatii ni kimasu ka? (who is coming to the party?)


why
naze / doushite

doushite desu ka? (why is it?)
doushite ka wakari masen. (I don't know why)


which
dono / dochira

dono hon ga anata no hon desu ka? (which book is yours?)
dochira ga ichiban suki desu ka? (which do you like best?)


how
dou / donna

donna fuuni sureba ii deshou ka? (how shall I do it?)
~wo dou ieba ii deshou ka? (how can I say~)