How to Ask Simple Questions in Japanese: “N1 wa N2 desuka” Explained

Introduction

Asking questions is one of the most useful skills in any language — and in Japanese, it’s easier than you think! In this lesson, we’ll introduce the essential question pattern “N1 は N2 ですか”, which means “Is N1 N2?”

Whether you want to ask someone’s name, age, nationality, or job, this pattern will help you start real conversations in Japanese from day one.

Let’s get started!

1. Meaning and Structure

N1 は N2 ですか
(N1 wa N2 desu ka?)
→ “Is N1 N2?”

This sentence structure is used to ask yes/no questions like:

• “Are you a student?”
• “Is this a dictionary?”
• “Is he Japanese?”

How to Answer Yes/No Questions in Japanese

When answering yes/no questions (〜ですか), you can respond like this:

Yes

はい、[N1は] N2です。(Hai, [N1 wa] N2 desu.)
or simply:
はい、そうです。 (Hai, sō desu.) → “Yes, that’s right.”

No

いいえ、N2じゃないです。 (Iie, N2 ja nai desu.) → “No, (it) is not.”

💡 Example:

Yumi

けんさん は せんせい ですか。 (Ken-san wa sensei desu ka?)
Are you a teacher, Ken?

Ken

はい、そうです。 (Hai, sō desu.) / いいえ、せんせい じゃないです。 (Iie, sensei ja nai desu.)
Yes, I am. / No, I am not a teacher.

2. Pronunciation Tip: Rising Intonation

When asking yes/no questions in Japanese, raise your intonation slightly at the end of the sentence on “か” (ka) — just like when you ask a question in English.

Example:
ロバートさん は ２７さい ですか。
(Robaato-san wa nijuu-nana sai desu ka?)
→ “Is Robert 27 years old?”
⤴️ Intonation goes up at the end!

3. Using “なん (nan)” for question-word questions

You can also use “なん” (nan) to ask question-word questions like:

“なん（何）” = what, and it can be combined words like:

• なんさい（何歳） = how old
• なんねんせい（何年生） = what grade
• なんばん（何番） = what number (e.g., phone number)

Extra Notes

Polite Alternative for “なんさいですか”

The phrase 「なんさいですか」 (nansai desu ka) means “How old are you?”

In polite situations — for example, when speaking to someone older or in formal settings — it’s better to say:
「おいくつですか」 (oikutsu desu ka) → a more respectful way to ask someone’s age.

Word Order with Question Words

In Japanese, the question word (like なん / なに) appears in the same position where the answer would go — usually where N2 is in the sentence. Example:

せんこう は なん ですか。(Senkou wa nan desu ka?) – “What is your major?”
→ The question word なん replaces the answer (e.g., けいざい = economics).

This is different from English, where the question word usually comes at the beginning of the sentence.

Difference Between “なん” and “なに”

Both なん (nan) and なに (nani) mean “what” in Japanese, but they are used differently depending on (1) pronunciation flow and (2) meaning or context.

(1) Based on Pronunciation (Sound Flow)

Originally, “nan” came from “nani” — the final vowel -i was dropped because it’s easier to pronounce. That’s why “nan” often appears before words that start with the sounds d, t, or n, since “nani” would sound awkward or difficult to say in those cases. For example:

In these cases, “nan” sounds smoother and more natural than “nani.”

(2) Based on Meaning (What vs. How Many)

Sometimes, “nan” and “nani” are also used differently depending on what the speaker wants to ask — what something is vs. how many (of something) there are.

So, if you’re asking “What color is it?” you say なにいろ (nani-iro).
But if you’re asking “How many colors are used in that painting?” you say なんしょく (nan-shoku).

(3) Exceptions

Like many Japanese grammar rules, there are exceptions. For instance, 何曜日 (what day of the week) is read なんようび (nan’yōbi), even though it doesn’t mean “how many.” This is simply because there is no alternative reading (nani-yōbi doesn’t exist).

4. Practice Sentences: Try It Yourself!

Translate the following into Japanese:

1️⃣ Are you a college student?
2️⃣ Is Satou-san a lawyer?
3️⃣ What grade is Kenji in?
4️⃣ How old is your older sister?

Answers:

1️⃣ （あなた は）だいがくせい ですか
(Anata wa daigakusei desu ka?)
Note: Use the person’s name if possible instead of “anata.”

2️⃣ さとうさん は べんごし ですか
(Satou-san wa bengoshi desu ka?)

3️⃣ けんじさん は なんねんせい ですか
(Kenji-san wa nan nensei desu ka?)

4️⃣ おねえさん は なんさい ですか
(Oneesan wa nansai desu ka?)

5. Common Vocabulary for Practice

6. FAQ – Frequently Asked Questions

7. Conclusion: Your First Japanese Questions!

With “N1 は N2 ですか”, you now have the power to start conversations, ask about people, and find out useful information — all in natural Japanese!

📝 Next Step: Practice by making your own questions:

• Is your friend a student?
• What’s your teacher’s name?
• How old is your classmate?