Japanese 1 Chapter 1.

2: Questions and Prepositions September 21, 2014

Question Words
Japanese Expression English Equivalent Expression Why is This Important?

n a

m a

W A

n a

d e

s u

K A

What is your name?
If someone does not automatically introduce themselves to you, you
may need to ask their name. This is often the case with shy children or
people who do not realize that you can speak Japanese.

d a r e

d e s u K A

Who is it? / Who are you?
A less polite way of asking for someones name OR asking someone
to point out another person to you. The meaning varies depending
on the situation in which the question is asked.

n a n

d e s u K A

n a n i

d e s u K A

What? / What is it?
A particularly useful question in many situations. Both versions of
the pronunciations of nan/nani are correct and mean the same
thing, but nan is heard more commonly.

d o r e

d e s u K A

Which one? / Which is it?
(when three or more options are present)
Dore is the question word for the kore/sore/are set of pronouns
(this, that, that over there). It translates as which, but only when
being used in a situation that has three or more choices. If the
choice is only between two objects (one or the other), it sounds
very strange to ask dore desu ka. You must instead use the word
docchi.

d o c c h i

d e s u K A

Which one (of the two?)
(when only two options are present)

d o k o

d e s u K A

Where? / Where is it?
Another very useful question. It can be successfully answered with
both kore/sore/are-type information or more detailed prepositional
sentences.

Congratulations; youve just learned some of the most powerful words in the language! Question words give you the ability to ask about the
things you like so you can pursue your own interests with native speakers of Japanese. There are a few more question words in Japanese
than in English (see dore vs. docchi for an example of two words in Japanese that English covers with a single word: which), but they are
used in practically the same ways. Notice how simply adding desu ka to any question word in the examples above makes it a complete
sentence all Japanese question words can be used this way.
Japanese 1 Chapter 1.2: Questions and Prepositions September 21, 2014

Prepositions
Pattern for Use Prepositions Meaning Meaning In Sentence Pattern
If subject is a living thing or otherwise has a soul
Subject
W A
base
N O
preposition
N I

i m a s u



If subject is a nonliving/inanimate thing:
Subject
W A
base
N O
preposition
N I

a r i m a s u

s o b a

t o n a r i

m a e

u s h i r o

u e

s h i t a

n a k a

s o t o

close to, nearby
next to, beside
in front of, before
behind, in back of
above, on top of
below, under, underneath
inside (of)
outside (of)
Subject is close to Base.
Subject is next to Base.
Subject is in front of Base.
Subject is behind Base.
Subject is above/on top of Base.
Subject is below/underneath Base.
Subject is inside of Base.
Subject is outside of Base.
The pattern for using prepositions as given in the chart above isnt the only way to use them, of course; its just how to make simple
statements. Remember that you can add to any statement to turn it into a question, swap out the subject or base with a question word
like or to ask things like Whats in the box? (Box )

The division between living and nonliving things for imasu and arimasu isnt necessarily as simple as that. Trees, although theyre living
things, would generally use arimasu, while the body of a deceased person would use imasu. The division isnt really between things that are
physically alive or not, but rather between things that express a personality or a soul, if you will. Determining when to use imasu and
arimasu is a skill youll pick up over time, so its best not to worry about it right now. Just remember that both verbs mean to be, to exist
and try to use them as best you can.