Dokoni ikuka kangaete imasu

“…ka”

“ka” indicates questions in Japanese. By adding “ka” after long forms (polite forms) of verbs, adjectives, and nouns, you can form formal questions. This is essential for polite conversation and formal writing.

Forming Formal Questions

  1. Use the Long Form (Polite Form) of the Verb, Adjective, or Noun:
    • Verbs: The long form ends with “…masu” for affirmative and “…masen” for negative.
    • Adjectives: The long form ends with “…desu” for affirmative and “…kunai desu” for negative.
    • Nouns: The long form ends with “…desu” for affirmative and “…dewa arimasen” for negative.
  2. Add “ka” at the End:
    • This particle turns the statement into a question, signaling that you are asking something.

Bataa wa arimasuka?
Bataa wa dokoni arimasuka?
Bataa wa dou tsukaimasuka?
Kono bataa wa oishiidesuka?
Bataa wa ii abura desuka?

“ka” with short forms

When you change sentences from long forms to short forms in Japanese, and add “ka” at the end, they become interrogative clauses.

bataa wa aruka (bataa ga aruka)
bataa wa dokoni aruka (bataa ga dokoni aruka)
bataa wa dou tsukauka (bataa o dou tsukauka)
kono bataa wa oishiika (kono bataa ga oishiika)
bataa wa ii aburaka (bataa ga ii aburaka)

Now, you can use the short form of interrogative clauses in sentences. Here, we will incorporate them using “shitteimasu ka”, which means “Do you know?” This combination allows you to ask if someone knows specific information in a polite and structured manner.

bataa ga aruka shitte imasuka?
bataa ga dokoni aruka shitte imasuka?
bataa o dou tsukauka shitte imasuka?
kono bataa wa oishiika shitte imasuka?
bataa wa ii aburaka shitte imasuka?

..ka douka

“…ka douka” is also used to indicate questions and is employed in interrogative clauses. It is specifically used for questions that can be answered with a simple “yes” or “no” or for questions that require choosing between two options. In such cases, “…ka douka” can often be replaced with “ka.”

bataa ga aruka douka shitteimasuka?
kono bataa wa oishiika douka shitteimasuka?
kono bataa wa ii aburaka douka shitteimasuka?

Expressions

Suzuki:
Ashita wa shukujitsude yasumi desu.

Justin:
Nanno hi ka wakarimasuka?

Suzuki:
Shunbun no hi desu. Hontou ka douka wakarimasenga, hiru to yoru no nagasa ga onajidesu.

Justin:
Yasuminanode, dokoni ikuka kangaeteimasu.

Exercise

Questions

Make sentences into one.

  1. Dokoni ikimasuka? Oshiete kudasai.
  2. Ano mise wa oishii desuka? Shitteimasuka?
  3. Shimasuka? Shimasenka? Anata shidai desu.
  4. Raishuu au jikan ga arimasuka? Shirabemasu.
  5. Isshoni ikimasuka? Ashitamadeni kimetekudasai.

Answers

  1. Dokoni ikuka oshiete kudasai.
  2. Ano mise wa oishiika shitte imasuka?
  3. Suruka shinaika (wa) anata shidai desu.
  4. Raishuu au jikan ga aruka shirabemasu.
  5. Isshoni ikuka ashitamadeni kimete kudasai.