{"id":1642,"date":"2009-11-03T04:26:27","date_gmt":"2009-11-03T06:26:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/comoaprenderjapones.net\/?p=1642"},"modified":"2026-08-09T13:07:49","modified_gmt":"2026-08-09T16:07:49","slug":"how-to-ask-questions-in-japanese","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/comoaprenderjapones.net\/en\/como-fazer-perguntas-em-japones\/","title":{"rendered":"How to ask questions in Japanese: \u304b and question words"},"content":{"rendered":"<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For <strong>ask questions in Japanese<\/strong>, you don't need to invert the sentence as you do in Portuguese. In polite yes\/no questions, keep the statement structure and add <strong>\u304b<\/strong> at the end. To ask \u201cwho\u201d, \u201cwhere\u201d, \u201cwhen\u201d or \u201cwhat\u201d, place the question word in the corresponding group and preserve the particle that indicates its function.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\"><p><strong>\u65e5\u672c\u8a9e\u3092\u52c9\u5f37\u3057\u307e\u3059\u304b\u3002<\/strong><br \/><em>Nihongo o benky\u014d shimasu ka.<\/em><br \/>Do you study Japanese?<\/p><p><strong>\u4f55\u3092\u52c9\u5f37\u3057\u307e\u3059\u304b\u3002<\/strong><br \/><em>Nani o benky\u014d shimasu ka.<\/em><br \/>What do you study?<\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The first question confirms information. The second asks for the missing information. In both cases, the predicate remains at the end and <strong>\u3092<\/strong> keeps the object function. This is the practical rule that organizes the rest of this guide.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Yes\/no questions with \u304b<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In polite speech, a sentence ending in <strong>\u3067\u3059<\/strong> or <strong>\u307e\u3059<\/strong> can become a question with <strong>\u304b<\/strong>. There is no need to change the order of the groups:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>\u3053\u308c\u306f\u672c\u3067\u3059\u3002<\/strong><br \/><em>Kore wa hon desu.<\/em><br \/>This is a book.<\/li>\n<li><strong>\u3053\u308c\u306f\u672c\u3067\u3059\u304b\u3002<\/strong><br \/><em>Kore wa hon desu ka.<\/em><br \/>Is this a book?<\/li>\n<li><strong>\u7530\u4e2d\u3055\u3093\u306f\u6765\u307e\u3059\u3002<\/strong><br \/><em>Tanaka-san wa kimasu.<\/em><br \/>Tanaka is coming.<\/li>\n<li><strong>\u7530\u4e2d\u3055\u3093\u306f\u6765\u307e\u3059\u304b\u3002<\/strong><br \/><em>Tanaka-san wa kimasu ka.<\/em><br \/>Is Tanaka coming?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The material <a href=\"https:\/\/www.irodori.jpf.go.jp\/assets\/data\/Grammar_all.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Irodori, by the Japan Foundation<\/a>, presents this pattern in questions like <strong>\uff5e\u306f\u3001\u3069\u3053\u3067\u3059\u304b<\/strong> and <strong>\uff5e\u306f\u3001\u3069\u3053\u306b\u3044\u307e\u3059\u304b<\/strong>. In pronunciation, intonation helps the listener, but the grammatical form is already marked by <strong>\u304b<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Essential question words<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">An open question contains a word that represents the unknown information. It doesn't need to appear at the beginning of the sentence: it occupies the place where that information would make sense.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table><thead><tr><th>Japanese<\/th><th>Reading<\/th><th>Basic usage<\/th><th>Short example<\/th><\/tr><\/thead><tbody>\n<tr><td>\u4f55<\/td><td><em>nani \/ nan<\/em><\/td><td>what; which<\/td><td>\u4f55\u3092\u98df\u3079\u307e\u3059\u304b\u3002 \u2014 What will you eat?<\/td><\/tr>\n<tr><td>\u8ab0<\/td><td><em>dare<\/em><\/td><td>who<\/td><td>\u8ab0\u304c\u6765\u307e\u3059\u304b\u3002 \u2014 Who is coming?<\/td><\/tr>\n<tr><td>\u3069\u3053<\/td><td><em>doko<\/em><\/td><td>Where<\/td><td>\u3069\u3053\u3067\u52c9\u5f37\u3057\u307e\u3059\u304b\u3002 \u2014 Where do you study?<\/td><\/tr>\n<tr><td>\u3044\u3064<\/td><td><em>itsu<\/em><\/td><td>when<\/td><td>\u3044\u3064\u884c\u304d\u307e\u3059\u304b\u3002 \u2014 When are you going?<\/td><\/tr>\n<tr><td>d\u014d<\/td><td><em>d\u014d<\/em><\/td><td>how; in what way<\/td><td>\u3069\u3046\u3084\u3063\u3066\u884c\u304d\u307e\u3059\u304b\u3002 \u2014 How are you going?<\/td><\/tr>\n<tr><td>\u3069\u3046\u3057\u3066<\/td><td><em>d\u014dshite<\/em><\/td><td>why<\/td><td>\u3069\u3046\u3057\u3066\u52c9\u5f37\u3057\u307e\u3059\u304b\u3002 \u2014 Why do you study?<\/td><\/tr>\n<tr><td>\u3069\u308c<\/td><td><em>dore<\/em><\/td><td>which among options<\/td><td>\u3069\u308c\u304c\u597d\u304d\u3067\u3059\u304b\u3002 \u2014 Which one do you like?<\/td><\/tr>\n<tr><td>\u3044\u304f\u3089<\/td><td><em>ikura<\/em><\/td><td>how much does it cost<\/td><td>\u3053\u308c\u306f\u3044\u304f\u3089\u3067\u3059\u304b\u3002 \u2014 How much does this cost?<\/td><\/tr>\n<\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>\u4f55<\/strong> can be read as <em>nani<\/em> or <em>nan<\/em> according to the expression. To delve deeper into this pronunciation without straying from the general topic, refer to the specific guide on <a href=\"https:\/\/comoaprenderjapones.net\/en\/when-to-use-nan-or-nani\/\">when to use nan or nani<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">The particle continues after the interrogative word<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It's not enough to just \u201cswap the object\u201d for any interrogative word. First, find out what information is missing; then choose the particle that marks the relationship of that group with the predicate. The guide on <a href=\"https:\/\/comoaprenderjapones.net\/en\/basic-particle-in-japanese\/\">particles in Japanese<\/a> helps review these functions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>\u4f55\u3092\u8aad\u307f\u307e\u3059\u304b\u3002<\/strong><br \/><em>Nani o yomimasu ka.<\/em><br \/>What are you going to read? \u2014 <strong>\u3092<\/strong> marks the object of \u8aad\u307f\u307e\u3059.<\/li>\n<li><strong>\u8ab0\u304c\u6765\u307e\u3057\u305f\u304b\u3002<\/strong><br \/><em>Dare ga kimashita ka.<\/em><br \/>Who came? \u2014 <strong>\u304c<\/strong> marks who performed the action.<\/li>\n<li><strong>\u3069\u3053\u306b\u884c\u304d\u307e\u3059\u304b\u3002<\/strong><br \/><em>Doko ni ikimasu ka.<\/em><br \/>Where are you going? \u2014 <strong>\u306b<\/strong> marks the destination.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Where do you study Japanese?<\/strong><br \/><em>Doko de nihongo o benky\u014d shimasu ka.<\/em><br \/>Where do you study Japanese? \u2014 <strong>\u3067<\/strong> marks the location of the activity.<\/li>\n<li><strong>\u8ab0\u3068\u8a71\u3057\u307e\u3057\u305f\u304b\u3002<\/strong><br \/><em>Dare to hanashimashita ka.<\/em><br \/>Who did you talk to? \u2014 <strong>\u3068<\/strong> marks the companion.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">words like <strong>\u3044\u3064<\/strong> and <strong>\u3069\u3046\u3057\u3066<\/strong> often function adverbially, without a particle right after: <strong>\u3044\u3064\u65e5\u672c\u3078\u884c\u304d\u307e\u3059\u304b<\/strong> (\u201cWhen are you going to Japan?\u201d) and <strong>\u3069\u3046\u3057\u3066\u65e5\u672c\u8a9e\u3092\u52c9\u5f37\u3057\u3066\u3044\u307e\u3059\u304b<\/strong> (\u201cWhy are you studying Japanese?\u201d).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Formal questions and informal questions<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The pattern with <strong>\u3067\u3059\u304b<\/strong> or <strong>\u307e\u3059\u304b<\/strong> is safe in polite situations. In informal conversations, it is common to use the plain form with question intonation and, in writing, the question mark:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Polite: <strong>\u660e\u65e5\u3001\u884c\u304d\u307e\u3059\u304b\u3002<\/strong> \u2014 <em>Ashita, ikimasu ka.<\/em> \u2014 Are you going tomorrow?<\/li>\n<li>Informal: <strong>\u660e\u65e5\u3001\u884c\u304f\uff1f<\/strong> \u2014 <em>Ashita, iku?<\/em> \u2014 Going tomorrow?<\/li>\n<li>Polite: <strong>\u4f55\u3092\u98df\u3079\u307e\u3059\u304b\u3002<\/strong> \u2014 <em>Nani o tabemasu ka.<\/em> \u2014 What are you going to eat?<\/li>\n<li>Informal: <strong>\u4f55\u98df\u3079\u308b\uff1f<\/strong> \u2014 <em>What should I eat?<\/em> \u2014 What are you going to eat?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Do not add <strong>\u304b<\/strong> mechanically to every informal question. Forms like <strong>\u884c\u304f\u304b<\/strong> exist, but they can sound masculine, abrupt, rhetorical, or context-dependent. For beginners, it is better to first master the opposition between <strong>\u884c\u304d\u307e\u3059\u304b<\/strong> and <strong>\u884c\u304f\uff1f<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What changes with \uff5e\u3093\u3067\u3059\u304b<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The ending <strong>\uff5e\u3093\u3067\u3059\u304b<\/strong> is not just a longer version of <strong>\uff5e\u307e\u3059\u304b<\/strong>. It usually asks for an explanation or confirms something the speaker relates to the situation. Compare:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>\u65e5\u672c\u3078\u884c\u304d\u307e\u3059\u304b\u3002<\/strong><br \/><em>Nihon e ikimasu ka.<\/em><br \/>Are you going to Japan? \u2014 neutral question about the fact.<\/li>\n<li><strong>\u3069\u3046\u3057\u3066\u65e5\u672c\u3078\u884c\u304f\u3093\u3067\u3059\u304b\u3002<\/strong><br \/><em>D\u014dshite Nihon e iku n desu ka.<\/em><br \/>Why are you going to Japan? \u2014 asks for the reason linked to the context.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">O <a href=\"https:\/\/kotoba.ninjal.ac.jp\/qa\/yokuaru\/qa-74\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">NINJAL explains the contextual role of \u306e\u3060\uff0f\u3093\u3067\u3059<\/a>: the speaker signals that they have part of the information and asks the listener to complete what is not yet clear. Depending on the situation and tone, the same form can also seem insistent; therefore, it should not be applied automatically.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How to respond naturally<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In yes\/no questions, <strong>\u306f\u3044<\/strong> and <strong>\u3044\u3044\u3048<\/strong> can start the answer, but adding the predicate avoids ambiguity. In open questions, answer with the requested information. What is already clear can be omitted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\"><p><strong>A: \u65e5\u672c\u8a9e\u3092\u52c9\u5f37\u3057\u307e\u3059\u304b\u3002<\/strong><br \/><em>Nihongo o benky\u014d shimasu ka.<\/em><br \/>Do you study Japanese?<\/p><p><strong>B: \u306f\u3044\u3001\u52c9\u5f37\u3057\u307e\u3059\u3002<\/strong><br \/><em>Hai, benky\u014d shimasu.<\/em><br \/>Yes, I study.<\/p><p><strong>A: \u3069\u3053\u3067\u52c9\u5f37\u3057\u307e\u3059\u304b\u3002<\/strong><br \/><em>Doko de benky\u014d shimasu ka.<\/em><br \/>Where do you study?<\/p><p><strong>B: \u5bb6\u3067\u52c9\u5f37\u3057\u307e\u3059\u3002<\/strong><br \/><em>Ie de benky\u014d shimasu.<\/em><br \/>I study at home.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In questions with <strong>\u3069\u3046\u3057\u3066<\/strong>, an answer with <strong>\u304b\u3089\u3067\u3059<\/strong> presents the reason: <strong>\u65e5\u672c\u306e\u6620\u753b\u304c\u597d\u304d\u3060\u304b\u3089\u3067\u3059<\/strong> (\u201cBecause I like Japanese movies\u201d). <strong>\u304b\u3089<\/strong> is a common resource, not the only possible way to explain a cause.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Common mistakes when formulating questions<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Inverting the sentence as in Portuguese.<\/strong> In Japanese, keep the predicate at the end. Review the <a href=\"https:\/\/comoaprenderjapones.net\/en\/word-order-in-japanese\/\">word order in Japanese<\/a> if there is still doubt.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Removing the necessary particle.<\/strong> In <strong>\u4f55\u3092\u8aad\u307f\u307e\u3059\u304b<\/strong>, \u4f55 represents the object, but <strong>\u3092<\/strong> continues to mark its function.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Treating \u3044\u3064, \u8ab0 and \u3069\u3053 as objects.<\/strong> Each word can represent time, person, or place and relates differently to the predicate.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Using \u304b in all informal conversation.<\/strong> Casual register often uses the simple form and intonation.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Confusing \u3069\u3053\u306b and \u3069\u3053\u3067.<\/strong> Use <strong>\u306b<\/strong> for destination or location of existence and <strong>\u3067<\/strong> for the place where an action happens.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Repeating the entire question in the answer.<\/strong> If the topic is already clear, answer only with the new information and the necessary predicate.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Exercise: complete the questions<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Choose the appropriate interrogative word or particle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>\uff08\u3000\uff09\u65e5\u672c\u8a9e\u3092\u52c9\u5f37\u3057\u307e\u3059\u304b\u3002 \u2014 Where do you study Japanese?<\/li>\n<li>\u8ab0\uff08\u3000\uff09\u6765\u307e\u3057\u305f\u304b\u3002 \u2014 Who came?<\/li>\n<li>\u4f55\uff08\u3000\uff09\u98df\u3079\u307e\u3059\u304b\u3002 \u2014 What are you going to eat?<\/li>\n<li>\uff08\u3000\uff09\u65e5\u672c\u3078\u884c\u304d\u307e\u3059\u304b\u3002 \u2014 When are you going to Japan?<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Answers:<\/strong> 1. <strong>\u3069\u3053\u3067<\/strong>; 2. <strong>\u304c<\/strong>; 3. <strong>\u3092<\/strong>; 4. <strong>\u3044\u3064<\/strong>. In each case, observe whether the blank asks for the unknown information, the grammatical relation, or both.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">To continue with request and choice situations, the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.irodori.jpf.go.jp\/assets\/data\/resources\/Grammar_Worksheets_X.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Irodori grammar exercise sheets<\/a> bring questions like <strong>\u4f55\u306b\u3057\u307e\u3059\u304b<\/strong> and short everyday dialogues.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Next step: turn statements into questions<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Start with a short sentence from the method of <a href=\"https:\/\/comoaprenderjapones.net\/en\/how-to-form-sentence-in-japanese\/\">Japanese sentence formation<\/a>. First make a yes\/no question with <strong>\u304b<\/strong>; then replace only one piece of information with <strong>\u4f55, \u8ab0, \u3069\u3053<\/strong> or <strong>\u3044\u3064<\/strong> and keep the appropriate particle. This contrast helps learn the structure without memorizing isolated lists.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Frequently asked questions about questions in Japanese<\/h2>\n\n\n<div id=\"rank-math-faq\" class=\"rank-math-block\">\n<div class=\"rank-math-list\">\n<div id=\"faq-question-5b35e10008d55\" class=\"rank-math-list-item\">\n<h3 class=\"rank-math-question\">Is it mandatory to use \u304b in every Japanese question?<\/h3>\n<div class=\"rank-math-answer\">\n\n<p>No. In polite questions, \u3067\u3059\u304b and \u307e\u3059\u304b are safe patterns. In informal conversation, the plain form with question intonation, like \u884c\u304f\uff1f, is very common. Adding \u304b to an informal form can produce different register effects and should not be done mechanically.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"faq-question-de02fa533c7a8\" class=\"rank-math-list-item\">\n<h3 class=\"rank-math-question\">Does Japanese need a question mark?<\/h3>\n<div class=\"rank-math-answer\">\n\n<p>Not always. In formal writing, the particle \u304b and context can make the question clear even with the Japanese period \u3002. The \uff1f mark is common in messages, dialogues, and informal texts, especially when the question relies on intonation.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"faq-question-945f0bb9c48e5\" class=\"rank-math-list-item\">\n<h3 class=\"rank-math-question\">What is the difference between \u3069\u3053\u306b and \u3069\u3053\u3067?<\/h3>\n<div class=\"rank-math-answer\">\n\n<p>Where do you usually ask about a destination or location of existence, such as \u3069\u3053\u306b\u884c\u304d\u307e\u3059\u304b and \u3069\u3053\u306b\u3042\u308a\u307e\u3059\u304b. \u3069\u3053\u3067 asks about the place where an action happens, such as \u3069\u3053\u3067\u52c9\u5f37\u3057\u307e\u3059\u304b.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"faq-question-11006a8a631a9\" class=\"rank-math-list-item\">\n<h3 class=\"rank-math-question\">When is \u4f55 read as nan or nani?<\/h3>\n<div class=\"rank-math-answer\">\n\n<p>Reading depends on the expression and the following sound. In \u4f55\u3092, the reading is usually nani; in \u4f55\u3067\u3059\u304b, nan is used. Since there are other patterns, the specific article on nan and nani is the best place to study this difference.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"faq-question-6a660fce9d54a\" class=\"rank-math-list-item\">\n<h3 class=\"rank-math-question\">How to ask \u201cwhy\u201d in Japanese?<\/h3>\n<div class=\"rank-math-answer\">\n\n<p>\u3069\u3046\u3057\u3066 is a common option for beginners: \u3069\u3046\u3057\u3066\u65e5\u672c\u8a9e\u3092\u52c9\u5f37\u3057\u3066\u3044\u307e\u3059\u304b means \u201cWhy do you study Japanese?\u201d. The reason can be presented with \u304b\u3089\u3067\u3059, but other constructions are also possible depending on the context and register.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Learn how to ask questions in Japanese with \u304b, \u3067\u3059\u304b, \u307e\u3059\u304b, and words like \u4f55, \u8ab0, \u3069\u3053, and \u3044\u3064, in formal and informal registers.<\/p>","protected":false},"author":23,"featured_media":1645,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[49,70,60],"tags":[27,71,2,3],"class_list":["post-1642","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-curso-de-japones-gratis","category-gramatica-japonesa","category-vocabulario-japones","tag-gramatica","tag-gramatica-japonesa","tag-idioma-japones","tag-nihongo","resize-featured-image"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/comoaprenderjapones.net\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1642","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/comoaprenderjapones.net\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/comoaprenderjapones.net\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/comoaprenderjapones.net\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/23"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/comoaprenderjapones.net\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1642"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/comoaprenderjapones.net\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1642\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":4401,"href":"https:\/\/comoaprenderjapones.net\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1642\/revisions\/4401"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/comoaprenderjapones.net\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1645"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/comoaprenderjapones.net\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1642"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/comoaprenderjapones.net\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1642"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/comoaprenderjapones.net\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1642"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}