Home Learn Japanese 日本にですかLLearn Japanese日本にですかApril 17, 20234 comments does this mean 日本にいますか？ so it’s a short form? Tags:Japanese LanguageLearn Japanese 4 commentsNeither is an alternative form of the other one. They’re just different ways to phrase the same question.No, It means “in Japan?”, or “to Japan”?です can sometimes be used as a substitute verb to make a phrase more polite, but it needs context. It doesn’t necessarily have meaning otherwise.スミス: もうしもうし、田中さまのお宅でいらっしゃいますか。Hello, is this the Tanaka residence.田中: はい、田中ですが… Yes, it is.スミス: 田中雄介様はいらっしゃいませんか。明日の打ち合わせのことなんです。Is Mr. Yusuke Tanaka there? This is about tomorrow’s meeting.田中: 申し訳ございません。父は昨夜急に帰りました。I’m terribly sorry, but he returned home suddenly last night.スミス: へっ？日本にですか。Huh? (He went back) to Japan?As u/kudgocracy mentioned, in isolation 日本にですか could be “in Japan” or “to Japan” without further context.No. It’s a different question.ですか here is just expressing a polite question. You could just say 「日本に？」in casual conversation.The purpose of asking 日本にですか is to confirm you heard the listener correctly or seek a follow up from them: “Oh? To Japan?” It’s a sort of 相槌(aizuchi).Leave a ReplyYou must be logged in to post a comment.
Neither is an alternative form of the other one. They’re just different ways to phrase the same question.
です can sometimes be used as a substitute verb to make a phrase more polite, but it needs context. It doesn’t necessarily have meaning otherwise.スミス: もうしもうし、田中さまのお宅でいらっしゃいますか。Hello, is this the Tanaka residence.田中: はい、田中ですが… Yes, it is.スミス: 田中雄介様はいらっしゃいませんか。明日の打ち合わせのことなんです。Is Mr. Yusuke Tanaka there? This is about tomorrow’s meeting.田中: 申し訳ございません。父は昨夜急に帰りました。I’m terribly sorry, but he returned home suddenly last night.スミス: へっ？日本にですか。Huh? (He went back) to Japan?As u/kudgocracy mentioned, in isolation 日本にですか could be “in Japan” or “to Japan” without further context.
No. It’s a different question.ですか here is just expressing a polite question. You could just say 「日本に？」in casual conversation.The purpose of asking 日本にですか is to confirm you heard the listener correctly or seek a follow up from them: “Oh? To Japan?” It’s a sort of 相槌(aizuchi).
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Neither is an alternative form of the other one. They’re just different ways to phrase the same question.
No, It means “in Japan?”, or “to Japan”?
です can sometimes be used as a substitute verb to make a phrase more polite, but it needs context. It doesn’t necessarily have meaning otherwise.
スミス: もうしもうし、田中さまのお宅でいらっしゃいますか。Hello, is this the Tanaka residence.
田中: はい、田中ですが… Yes, it is.
スミス: 田中雄介様はいらっしゃいませんか。明日の打ち合わせのことなんです。Is Mr. Yusuke Tanaka there? This is about tomorrow’s meeting.
田中: 申し訳ございません。父は昨夜急に帰りました。I’m terribly sorry, but he returned home suddenly last night.
スミス: へっ？日本にですか。Huh? (He went back) to Japan?
As u/kudgocracy mentioned, in isolation 日本にですか could be “in Japan” or “to Japan” without further context.
No. It’s a different question.
ですか here is just expressing a polite question. You could just say 「日本に？」in casual conversation.
The purpose of asking 日本にですか is to confirm you heard the listener correctly or seek a follow up from them: “Oh? To Japan?” It’s a sort of 相槌(aizuchi).