Latest / Learn Japanese with Fexingo / Japanese Question Words - What & Where
Transcript
- Lucas: Welcome back to Learn Japanese with Fexingo. I'm Lucas. Luna: And I'm Luna! Episode 106. We're still going strong. Lucas: Yep, and today we're tackling something super useful — question words. Specifically, how to ask 'what' and 'where'. Luna: Oh, I've been waiting for this. I always want to ask what something is or where something is. Lucas: Perfect. So let's start with 'what'. In Japanese, 'what' is 何. Luna: 何? Lucas: Yes. Say it again. Luna: 何. Lucas: Good. Now, to ask 'What is this?' you say これは何ですか. Luna: これは何ですか. That's a mouthful. Lucas: Let's break it down. これ means 'this', は is the topic particle, 何 is 'what', です is 'is', and か turns it into a question. So literally 'This is what?' Luna: Okay, これは何ですか. Let me try again. これは何ですか. Lucas: Nailed it. Now, if you want to ask 'What is that?' — where 'that' is something near the listener — you say それは何ですか. Luna: それは何ですか. Lucas: Exactly. So これ for things near you, それ for things near the other person. Luna: Got it. So if I point at your notebook, I'd say それは何ですか. Lucas: Perfect example. And I'd reply, 'これはノートです' — this is a notebook. Luna: Oh, I see how it works. So これ and それ change depending on position. Lucas: Right. Now let's move to 'where'. The word for 'where' is どこ. Luna: どこ. Lucas: Yes. To ask 'Where is the toilet?' you say トイレはどこですか. Luna: トイレはどこですか. That's a classic. Lucas: Classic and very practical. トイレ is 'toilet', は topic particle, どこ 'where', です 'is', か question marker. So 'Toilet is where?' Luna: トイレはどこですか. Let me try once more. トイレはどこですか. Lucas: You've got it. Another common one: 'Where is the station?' 駅はどこですか. Luna: 駅はどこですか. So 駅 is 'station'? Lucas: Exactly. So you can plug in any place word: 駅, コンビニ, 病院. Luna: Right. What about asking 'Where is this?' Would that be これはどこですか? Lucas: Spot on. これはどこですか. That works too. Luna: Good. So let's practice a little dialogue. I'll pretend I'm in a store. Lucas: Okay. You can start by pointing at something. Luna: これは何ですか. Lucas: それはペンです. That's a pen. And if you want to know where the pens are? Luna: ペンはどこですか. Lucas: そこです. Over there. Great, you're using both question words naturally. Luna: If Fexingo has been helping you make actual progress with Japanese, I just want to say — a couple of dollars a month is genuinely what keeps these going. It's like buying us a coffee. You can do that at buy me a coffee dot com slash fexingo. Lucas: Yeah, it really does make a difference. So if you've gotten something out of the show, consider supporting us. Now, back to questions — let's do one more round. Luna: Sure. Let me ask: トイレはどこですか. Lucas: あそこです. Over there. And if someone asks you これは何ですか, you can answer with これは本です or whatever it is. Luna: Right. So let's recap: 何 means 'what', どこ means 'where'. To ask 'What is this?' これは何ですか. 'Where is the toilet?' トイレはどこですか. Lucas: Perfect summary. And remember, you can replace the noun. So それは何ですか for 'What is that?' and 駅はどこですか for 'Where is the station?'. Luna: I feel like I can actually ask questions now. Thanks, Lucas. Lucas: You're welcome. Practice these phrases — say them out loud. We'll catch you next time on Learn Japanese with Fexingo. Luna: See you then!