Learn vocabulary to Ask Questions in Japanese

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Let’s learn vocabulary to ask questions in Japanese.

1. 誰 (だれ, dare) – who

Example:
誰ですか？ (Dare desu ka?) → Who is it?

2. 何 (なに, nani) – what

Example:
これは何ですか？ (Kore wa nani desu ka?) → What is this?

3. なぜ (naze) – why

Example:
なぜ遅れたのですか？ (Naze okureta no desu ka?) → Why were you late?

4. どこ (doko) – where

Example:
トイレはどこですか？ (Toire wa doko desu ka?) → Where is the bathroom?

5. いつ (itsu) – when

Example:
いつ行きますか？ (Itsu ikimasu ka?) → When will you go?

6. どれ (dore) – which (among several)

Example:
どれが好きですか？ (Dore ga suki desu ka?) → Which one do you like?

7. どんな (donna) – what kind of

Example:
どんな音楽が好きですか？ (Donna ongaku ga suki desu ka?) → What kind of music do you like?

8. いくら (ikura) – how much

Example:
これはいくらですか？ (Kore wa ikura desu ka?) → How much is this?

9. 何時 (なんじ, nanji) – what time

Example:
今は何時ですか？ (Ima wa nanji desu ka?) → What time is it now?

10. どの (dono) – which (specific one, before a noun)

Example:
どの本がいいですか？ (Dono hon ga ii desu ka?) → Which book is good?

The difference between similar ones like どれ vs どの, or なぜ vs どうして?

🔹 どれ vs どの

Both mean “which”, but they are used differently in a sentence.

どれ (dore) → used alone, when you’re asking “which one” among options.

Example:
この中でどれが好きですか？
(Kono naka de dore ga suki desu ka?)
Which (one) do you like among these?

どの (dono) → used before a noun, like an adjective.

Example:
どの本が好きですか？
(Dono hon ga suki desu ka?)
Which book do you like?

👉 Think of it like English:

“Which one?” → どれ

“Which [noun]?” → どの

🔹 なぜ vs どうして vs なんで

All mean “why”, but the nuance is a little different.

なぜ (naze) → formal, logical “why.”
Often used in writing, news, or formal speech.

Example:
なぜ地球は回っているのですか？
(Naze chikyuu wa matte iru no desu ka?)
Why does the Earth rotate?

どうして (doushite) → general, everyday “why.”
The most commonly used in conversation.

Example:
どうして遅れたの？ (Doushite okureta no?)
→ Why were you late?

なんで (nande) → casual “why.”
Sounds more direct, sometimes even a bit accusing depending on tone.

Example:
なんで来なかったの？
(Nande konakatta no?)
Why didn’t you come?

👉 Think of it like this:

なぜ → formal, logical (like “for what reason…”)

どうして → neutral, polite everyday “why”

なんで → casual, sometimes blunt

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