If you are visiting Japan for the first (or second) time, it might be good to prep yourself for some common Japanese phrases and Japanese questions you might need to answer. After all, the fear of not knowing what to say is very common when visiting another country. What’s the polite way to ask for help? Am I pronouncing things correctly? How do I avoid coming across as rude? All of these questions, on top of the question you’re trying to ask a local, can add up fast.
Fortunately, you’re not alone. Knowing a few key questions in any language can go along way towards improving your experience. In this article, we’ll break down key Japanese questions to know for everyday situations, navigation, shopping, and dining.
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Japanese Questions Everyday/Survival
This section will discuss basic questions that will be useful in daily scenarios. In these examples, “desu ka” will come up often. This is a modifier that indicates you are asking a question. “Desu” means “is”, while “ka” acts almost like a question mark when speaking.
1. どこですか (Doko desu ka?): Where is ___?
_____ はどこですか? (____ wa doko desu ka?) To ask where to find something, begin with the name of the place followed by “wa doko desu ka”. For example, to ask “where is the restroom,” say:
トイレはどこですか?
Keshoushitsu wa doko desu ka?
You can alternatively use the word 化粧室 (keshoushitsu). A lot of Coto Academy teachers got the question from our students, “What is the difference between 化粧室 (keshoushitsu) and トイレ (toilet).
化粧室 (keshoushitsu) is more often used to refer to a powder room. Since 化粧 (keshou) means “makeup” and 室 (shitsu) means “room,” it literally translates to “makeup room.”
In everyday conversation, you can use トイレ (toire) for “restroom” or “bathroom.” If you want to sound more formal, polite, or soften the expression, you can use 化粧室 (keshoushitsu) instead.
2. いくらですか (Ikura desu ka): How much is this?
When you are shopping around a shotengai or department store in Japan and come across a product without its price listed, you can ask the store clerk:
いくらですか?
Ikura desu ka?
How much is this?
You can also specify the item by saying its name, or use これ (kore) meaning “this.” Adding これは (kore wa) while holding or pointing toward something specific makes it clear which item you are asking about.
これはいくらですか？
Kore wa ikura desu ka?
How much is this?
りんごはいくらですか？
Ringo wa ikura desu ka?
How much are the apples?
500円です。
Gohyaku en desu.
It is 500 yen.
A helpful tip is to learn more about これ (kore), それ (sore), and あれ (are). These are the Japanese equivalents of “this” and “that,” but the word you use depends on the location of the object relative to the speaker and listener.
- これ (kore) = Used for something close to the speaker.
- それ (sore) = Used for something close to the listener (the other person you are speaking to).
- あれ (are) = Used for something far away from both the speaker and the listener.
If the item is near the other person, you would use それ, and if it is far from both of you, you would use あれ.
Make sure you can also understand the store clerk’s response when they tell you the price in yen. Learning how to count and read Japanese numbers will help you recognize prices more easily and complete the conversation with confidence.
3. 今何時ですか (Ima wa nanji desu ka?): What time is it?
今 (ima) means “now,” and 何時 (nanji) means “what time.” This phrase is used when asking the current time. To ask what time an event or activity will happen in the future, you can use 何時に (nanji ni), meaning “at what time.”
これは何時にありますか？
Kore wa nanji ni arimasu ka?
What time is this? / What time does this take place?
If you are the one being asked this, you can say:
午前11時です。
Gozen juuichiji desu.
It is 11 AM.
Let’s learn more about how to tell the time in Japanese, so we understand the other speaker’s reply too!
4. お名前は何ですか (Onamae wa nan desu ka)?: What’s your name?
お名前は何ですか？ (Onamae wa nan desu ka?) is a common way to ask someone’s name, especially when meeting someone for the first time.
A more formal and polite way to ask someone’s name is:
お名前を伺ってもよろしいでしょうか？
Onamae o ukagatte mo yoroshii deshou ka?
May I ask your name?
Notice that 名前 (namae), meaning “name,” is used with the prefix お (o) to become お名前 (onamae). In Japanese, お is an honorific prefix often used in keigo (敬語), or polite speech, to make words sound more respectful and soften the directness of the expression.
To reply with your name in Japanese, you can say:
山田です。
Yamada desu.
I am Yamada.
5. おいくつですか (Oikutsu desu ka)?: How old are you?
When asking someone’s age in Japanese, there are two common ways you may hear it:
おいくつですか？
Oikutsu desu ka?
何歳ですか？
Nan-sai desu ka?
The first one is the more way to ask someone’s age. This is often used when speaking with someone you do not know well.The main exception is 20 years old. Instead of saying 二十歳 (nijuu-sai), Japanese uses the special reading:
二十歳です。
Hatachi desu.
I am 20 years old.
Japanese Questions for Requesting Help or a Favor
6. 手伝ってもらえませんか (Tetsudatte moraemasenka): Can you help me?
手伝ってもらえませんか？
Tetsudatte moraemasen ka?
Could you help me?
手伝ってもらえませんか？ (Tetsudatte moraemasen ka?) is a polite way to ask someone for help in a non-urgent situation. It literally means “Could I receive your help?” and is commonly used when you need assistance with something, such as carrying an item, understanding something, or asking someone to help you complete a task.
However, if you are in an emergency and need immediate help, you would say:
助けて！
Tasukete!
“Help!”
7. 英語を話しますか (Eigo o hanashimasu ka): Do you speak English?
英語を話しますか？
Eigo o hanashimasu ka?
Do you speak English?
When you are not confident in your Japanese (yet!) and prefer to speak in English, you can say, 英語を話しますか？ (Eigo o hanashimasu ka?). This is a polite way to ask someone if they speak English. 英語 (eigo) means “English,” and 話します (hanashimasu) means “to speak.”
Notice that this sentence does not include the Japanese word for “you”. In everyday Japanese conversations, the subject is often omitted when it is already clear from the context.
Similarly, someone might ask you:
日本語を話しますか？
Nihongo o hanashimasu ka?
“Do you speak Japanese?”
If you are confident in your Japanese, you can reply:
はい、日本語を話します！
Hai, nihongo o hanashimasu!
Yes, I speak Japanese!
8. 写真を撮ってもいいですか (Shashin o totte mo ii desu ka)?: Can I take a photo?
写真を撮ってもいいですか？
Shashin o totte mo ii desu ka?
Can I take a photo?
When asking for permission to do something in Japanese, you can use the phrase 〜てもいいですか？ (〜te mo ii desu ka?), which means “Is it okay if I…?” or “May I…?”
In this sentence, 写真 (shashin) means “photo,” 撮って (totte) means “take,” and もいいですか (mo ii desu ka) asks for permission.
If someone is asking for permission, you can reply:
はい、もちろんです。
Hai, mochiron desu.
Yes, of course.
If you need to refuse, Japanese speakers often avoid saying a direct “no” because it can sound too strong. Instead, we recommend you use the word ちょっと… (chotto…) to soften the response and imply that it is difficult or not possible.
For example:
すみません、写真を撮ってもいいですか？
Sumimasen, shashin o totte mo ii desu ka?
Excuse me, may I take a photo?
今はちょっと……
Ima wa chotto…
Sorry, right now it’s a little difficult…
Using ちょっと… is a common and polite way to decline something without directly saying “no.”
Japanese Questions to Help You Get Around
The following section will discuss questions related to travel, public transportation, and the Tokyo metro.
9. 駅はどこですか (Eki wa doko desu ka?): Where is the station?
If you are traveling in Japan or living there, chances are you will use train stations frequently. Japanese train stations can be large and confusing, with multiple train lines, platforms, and exits. If you ever get lost but feel like you are close to a station—and even if Google Maps is not helping—you can ask someone:
駅はどこですか？
Eki wa doko desu ka?
“Where is the station?”
駅 (eki) means “station.” In most situations, this is enough because people will understand you mean a train station from the context.
If you want to be more specific, you can say:
電車の駅はどこですか？
Densha no eki wa doko desu ka?
“Where is the train station?”
Note that 電車駅 (densha eki) is not commonly used in natural Japanese. 電車の駅 (densha no eki) is the more natural way to specify a train station.
We recommend you learn more about common Japanese train phrases you might encounter once you are in the train station!
10. どうやって行きますか (Douyatte ikimasuka): How do I get to ___?
When you get lost in Japan and need to ask someone for directions, you can use:
_____ にはどうやって行きますか？
_____ ni wa douyatte ikimasu ka?
How do I get to _____?
Place your destination in the blank before the phrase. Unlike simply asking “Where is ___?”, this phrase asks for specific directions on how to reach the destination.
新宿駅にはどうやって行きますか？
Shinjuku-eki ni wa douyatte ikimasu ka?
How do I get to Shinjuku Station?”
11. この電車は〜に行きますか (Kono densha wa __ ni ikimasu ka)?: Does this train go to ___?
Japanese trains run on different service types. Typically, local trains stop at every station, while rapid and commuter rapid trains skip some smaller stations and make fewer stops.
When you are unsure whether you are on the correct train, you can use this phrase to confirm the destination:
この電車は〜に行きますか？
Kono densha wa _____ ni ikimasu ka?
Does this train go to _____?
Start with この電車 (kono densha), meaning “this train,” and replace the blank with your destination.
Example:
この電車は新宿駅に行きますか？
Kono densha wa Shinjuku-eki ni ikimasu ka?
“Does this train go to Shinjuku Station?”
This phrase is especially useful when asking station staff or other passengers before boarding, helping you confirm that you are heading in the right direction.
Shopping and Dining
This section will go over questions that will be useful when visiting a shop or restaurant.
12. _____ はありますか (__ wa arimasuka?): Do you have ___?
Japan is a world of amazing souvenirs, and after seeing viral product recommendations on social media, you might want to visit your nearby Don Quijote to search for them.
To make your shopping experience easier, you can simply ask a store employee:
_____ はありますか？
_____ wa arimasu ka?
Do you have _____?
Start the sentence with the item you are looking for. ありますか (arimasu ka) means “do you have?” or “is there?”
For example, if you are looking for a specific product:
このお菓子はありますか？
Kono okashi wa arimasu ka?
“Do you have this snack?”
13. ここ、空いていますか (Koko, aite imasu ka):Is this seat taken?
Use ここ、空いていますか？ (Koko, aite imasu ka?) when you are unsure whether a table, chair, or counter seat is currently being used.
You can also say:
席、空いていますか？
Seki, aite imasu ka?
“Is this seat available?”
席 (seki) specifically means “seat,” making it a useful phrase when asking at restaurants, cafés, or crowded public spaces.
A cultural note: In Japan, it is common for people to leave a small personal item, such as a handkerchief, umbrella, or bag, on a seat to show that it is occupied while they are away briefly. Because this practice is widely understood, do not assume a seat is available just because nobody is sitting there. If you see a personal item left behind, it may mean someone has already claimed the spot.
14. 別々で支払いできますか (Betsu betsu shiraharai deksimasuka): Can we split the bill?
If you are eating out with friends in Japan, it is common for each person to pay their own share of the bill. However, not every restaurant allows separate payments, so it is useful to confirm before paying.
別々で支払いできますか？
Betsu betsu de shiharai dekimasu ka?
Can we pay separately?
Learn about different ways to ask for the bill in Japanese!
15. ここにWi-Fiはありますか (Koko ni wi-fi wa arimasuka)?: Is there Wi-Fi here?
The Japanese language does not have a dedicated word for Wi-Fi, so say it the same way you would while speaking English.
You can also make it slightly more specific:
無料Wi-Fiはありますか？
Muryou waifai wa arimasu ka?
Is there free Wi-Fi?
Quick Tips for Using These Questions Naturally
Remember, an easy way to modify a sentence in Japanese into a question is to finish the sentence with “ka”. You can do this with practically any Japanese phrase, and it will turn into a question.
For example, while だいじょうぶです (Daijoubu desu) means “I’m okay” or “It’s okay”, saying だいじょうぶですか? (Daijoubu desu ka?) means “Are you okay?” or “Is it okay?”
Sometimes saying “ka” might not even be necessary. When speaking casually, you can raise your voice’s pitch to indicate that you’re asking a question. Depending on the context, it may sound more natural and less robotic.
Politeness level basics
There are several ways to modify questions for certain contexts in order to ask them more politely. Saying “desu ka” is the standard way to ask formal questions, but you might also hear “deshou ka”, which is considered more formal and speculative than asking a question directly. It’s like saying “I wonder if” in English.
Make sure to be careful when adding “ka” to the end of a casual phrase. Saying “ka” without “desu” may sound more aggressive or masculine depending on the context. To make sure you sound polite, stick with “desu ka”.
Body language that helps
Another way to sound polite when asking questions in Japan is to always open with “Sumimasen”, which translates to “excuse me”. Say this while raising your hand to cue that you need help, then bow slightly (only about 15 degrees) before talking to demonstrate respect.
If you need to point towards something specific, make sure to do it with an open hand. Like many Western cultures, pointing directly is considered rude or aggressive, so just direct somebody’s vision with your full hand and your palm facing upward.
Lastly, remember to nod slightly to show understanding, and bow once again to thank someone for their help!
Conclusion
Knowing these questions will help you feel relaxed and confident while in Japan. If you’re ever in a situation where you’re unsure of what to do or where to go, just ask!
Learn more about context-sensitive Japanese language by studying with Coto Academy! We offer a variety of conversational, business, and comprehensive Japanese language courses available online from anywhere in the world, including our Tokyo and Yokohama campuses. Ready to sign up or receive a free consultation? Fill out the short form below!
FAQ
How do I ask questions in Japanese?
The sentence modifier “desu ka” is like a verbal question mark in Japanese. Adding this to sentences indicates that you are asking a question.
How do I ask “where is (something)” in Japanese?
“(Something) wa doko desu ka” translates to (where is [something]). Make sure to start the sentence with the specific thing or location you’re looking for.
How do I ask “where is the train station” in Japanese?
“Eki wa doko desu ka” means “where is the station”, which works most of the time. If you need to specify that you’re looking for a train station, say “densha eki wa doko desu ka”.
How do I ask for my bill at a restaurant in Japan?
“Okaike onegai shimasu” literally translates to “check please”. You can also make an “X” shape with your index fingers.
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