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In this lesson, you will learn how to use the Japanese grammar N1はN2ですか.
Ms. Lin is very good at Japanese, Chinese, and English. Is Ms. Lin Japanese? Let's ask Ms. Lin.
At such times, you say this:“リンさんは にほんじん ですか。”
Today let's learn about "N1はN2ですか".
👉<Use>
"N1はN2ですか" is used to ask a question with a noun sentence.
When you want to make a question sentence, simply add "か (ka)" to the end of the sentence.
“リンさんは にほんじん ですか。”means "Is Ms.Lin Japanese?"
When you want to affirm the question, you can say, "はい、Nです。"
When you want to deny the question, you can say, "いいえ、Nじゃありません。"
⚠Until now, we have studied only sentences where the predicate is a noun, but the rule remains the same for sentences where the predicate is a verb or adjective: the particle “か” is added at the end of the sentence.
👉<Form>
N1はN2です + か
👉<Examples>
1. Q: すずきさんは かいしゃいんですか。
A: はい、かいしゃいんです。
Q: Suzuki-san wa kaishain desuka.
A: Hai. Kaishain desu.
Q: Are you an office worker, Mr. Suzuki?
A: Yes, I am an office worker.
2. Q: キムさんは かいしゃいんですか。
A: いいえ、かいしゃいんじゃありません。がくせいです。
Q: Kimu-san wa kaishain desuka.
A: Iie. Kaishain ja arimasen. Gakusei desu.
Q: Is Ms. Kim an office worker?
A: No, she is not an office worker. She is a student.
3. Q: すずきさんは かんこくじんですか。
A: いいえ、かんこくじんじゃありません。にほんじんです。
Q: Suzuki-san wa kankokujin desuka.
A: Iie. Kankokujin ja arimasen. Nihonjin desu.
Q: Is Mr. Suzuki Korean?
A: No, he is not Korean. He is Japanese.
4. Q: キムさんは かんこくじんですか。
A: はい、かんこくじんです。
Q: Kimu-san wa kankokujin desuka.
A: Hai. Kankokujin desu.
Q: Are you Korean, Ms. Kim?
A: Yes, I am Korean.
Video Explanation
Speaking Practice
Practice Japanese on italki
If you want to practice this grammar in real conversation, learning with a tutor can help you improve faster. Many learners find that regular speaking practice is the fastest way to become confident in Japanese.
Find a Japanese Tutor on italki →Suggested Study Material
Minna no Nihongo I (Main Textbook)
This grammar point appears in Minna no Nihongo(Lesson1), one of the most widely used beginner textbooks for Japanese learners.
Check textbook detailsThe main textbook is written mostly in Japanese, so many learners also use the Translation & Grammar Notes together.
Minna no Nihongo I – Translation & Grammar Notes (English)
Check translation & grammar book※Minna no Nihongo is available worldwide on Amazon. If the link does not work in your country, you can search the title on your local Amazon store.
