Question Words: Who, When, Where, Which, Why, How, What

 

This lesson introduces Japanese question words, the equivalent of English who, what, where, when, why, and how.

 

Some Japanese question words have several forms depending on polite or casual form or the context.

The question words in the table 1 have just one form, so they are simple!

 

Table 1
	Who	Whose	When	Where
Form	だれ	だれの	いつ	どこ
Example1.	Who are you?/ Who did it?	Whose bag is this?	When did you go?	Where is that?
Translation	あなたはだれですか？ だれがしましたか？	これは　だれの　かばん　ですか？	いつ いきましたか？	それはどこですか？

 

Looking at the question words in the table 2, you see they have several forms.

The difference of reading between the forms in red is only the degree of politeness. So even if you replace these different forms in the same question word, the meaning does not change.

On the contrary, if you replace the form written in purple with a different form, it does not make sense.

Table 2
	Which	Why	How	What
Form 1	どれが	なぜ (Polite)	どのように(Polite)	どのような(Polite)
Example	Which one is your pen?	Why do you study?	How did make this？	What (kinds of)music do you like
Translation	どれが　あなたの　ペンですか？	なぜべんきょうしていますか？	どのようにこれをつくりましたか？	どのようなおんがくがすきですか？
Form ２	どの	どうして(Polite and casual)	どうやって(Polite and casual)	どういう (Polite and casual)
Example	どのペンが　あなたのですか？	Why do you study?	How did make this？	What (kinds of)music do you like
Translation	Which pen is yours?	どうしてべんきょうしていますか？	どのやってこれをつくりましたか？	どういうおんがくがすきですか？
Form ３		なんで(casual)	どう(Polite and casual)	どんな (casual)
Example		Why do you study?	How was that?	What (kinds of)music do you like
Translation		なんでべんきょうしていますか？	どうでしたか？	どんなおんがくがすきですか？
Form 4			どれくらい/どれぐらい/どのくらい/どのぐらい(Polite and casual)	なに (Polite and casual) “what”interrogative pronoun”
Example			How much do you like me? / How long have you been in Japan?	What do you do? / What do you like?
Translation			どれくらいわたしがすき？/ どれくらいにほんにいましたか？	なにをしていますか？/ なにがすきですか？
Form 5			いくら(Polite and casual)	なん(Polite and casual)“what” “interrogative adjective”
Example			How much is this?	What is this? / What time is it？
Translation			これはいくらですか？	これはなんですか？/ なんじですか？
Form 6			なん(Polite and casual) How＋many
Example			How many? （How old？）
Translation			いくつですか？
Form 7			なん(Polite and casual) How＋many＋things  How＋old
Example			How many years? How old are you？
Translation			なんねんですか？ なんさいですか？

 

 

Note for “How”

The reading and meaning of "How" changes depending on the words that follow it. For example, when "How" is used alone, it is to ask for a way or comment. 

There are many expressions for "How much" and "How long", all 4 of which are used equally.

 "いくつ" can be used for both "How many?" And "How old?", But "How old" is more often used for "なんさい？".

 

Note for “What”

The rules for using” なに” is the following case：

·        There is a particle follows "なに".

 

The rules for using” なん” is either of the following cases： 

·        It is "なん" before "です 

             OR 

·        When it is “What" + "ordinal numbers or suffix"  

※The ordinal numbers (ordinal suffix) are numbers like "first," "second”, and "third"—numbers that indicate place, order, or items on a list. Ordinal numbers are also what we use to count floors, the first day of the week or calendar year, months, days and time of day etc.

 

The rules for using” どのような、どういう、どんな” are the following cases：

·        it can be translated into English as What kind (type) of 

 

 

Review quiz

 

Please translate the following sentences

 

1.     Who goes to school?

2.     Who is your friend?

3.     When did you come back home?

4.     Where do you live?

5.     Why do you like me?

6.     How do you get there?

7.     How is this?

8.     How much did you eat?

9.     How long does it take to get school?

10.  How many hours did you sleep?

11.  How much was this?

12.  How old is he?

 

 

 

Answer

 

1.     だれが　がっこうに　いきますか？

2.     あなたのともだちは　だれですか？　Or だれが　あなたのともだちですか？

3.     いつ　うちに　かえりましたか？

4.     どこに　すんでいますか？

5.     なぜ（or どうしてor なんで）　わたしが　すきですか？

6.     どのように（or どうやって） 　そこに　いきますか？

7.     これは　どうでしたか？

8.     どれくらい（or どれぐらいor どのくらいor どのぐらい）　たべましたか？

9.     がっこうまで　どれくらい（or どれぐらいor どのくらいor どのぐらい）　かかりますか？

10.  なんじかん　ねましたか（or ねむりましたか）？

11.  これは　いくらですか？

12.  かれは　なんさい　ですか？