Should be どこ**に**ありますか (doko **ni** arimasu ka)・どこ**に**いますか (doko **ni** imasu ka).
They are almost completely interchangeable. The arimasuka/imasuka form to me feels a little bit more like “where may it be found?” as opposed to a direct “where precisely is it?”
Just use doko desu ka, for now.
I’ve never really thought of this. But, I guess this kind of question comes up early in Japanese language courses. I imagine the following being some example sentences:
Q: ペンはどこですか。(pen ha doko desuka)
A: ペンはここです。（pen ha koko desu)
Q:ペンはどこにありますか。(pen ha doko ni arimasu ka)
A: ペンはテーブルのうえにあります。(pen ha teeburu no ue ni arimasu)
I do not think I have ever heard ぺんはテーブルのうえです (pen ha teeburu no ue desu)
Often use 今どこですか?(Ima Doko Desuka?) over 今どこにいますか?(Ima Doko Ni Imasuka?) and それはどこですか？(Sore Wa Doko Deska) over それはどこにありますか？(Sore Wa Doko Ni Arimasuka?)
I think the words is used because of the simplicity and you can say the meanings more shortly. 例文:ゴミ箱はどこですか？ トイレはどこですか？ 交番はどこですか？
I think it boils down to simplicity.
In どこですか – です is doing two jobs in one. It is providing the existence confirmation (unspecific) AND politeness/formality.
While in どこにありますか / いますか – we have a separate existence verb ある/いる (can add specificity as to what is talked about), which also needs a logical particle to mark what is being acted on/with/to/towards etc., AND a separate ます politeness attachment.
So the way I see it, is どこですか is a more convenient, general option. It’s never wrong, it’s easier to say. And どこにありますか / いますか is when you want to be more specific about what you’re talking about, as well as not being in a rush to say it. So it might come off maybe a tiny bit more refined, but maybe also a bit more pompous? Don’t quote me on that last bit though.
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Should be どこ**に**ありますか (doko **ni** arimasu ka)・どこ**に**いますか (doko **ni** imasu ka).
They are almost completely interchangeable. The arimasuka/imasuka form to me feels a little bit more like “where may it be found?” as opposed to a direct “where precisely is it?”
Just use doko desu ka, for now.
I’ve never really thought of this. But, I guess this kind of question comes up early in Japanese language courses. I imagine the following being some example sentences:
Q: ペンはどこですか。(pen ha doko desuka)
A: ペンはここです。（pen ha koko desu)
Q:ペンはどこにありますか。(pen ha doko ni arimasu ka)
A: ペンはテーブルのうえにあります。(pen ha teeburu no ue ni arimasu)
I do not think I have ever heard ぺんはテーブルのうえです (pen ha teeburu no ue desu)
Often use 今どこですか?(Ima Doko Desuka?) over 今どこにいますか?(Ima Doko Ni Imasuka?) and それはどこですか？(Sore Wa Doko Deska) over それはどこにありますか？(Sore Wa Doko Ni Arimasuka?)
I think the words is used because of the simplicity and you can say the meanings more shortly.
例文:ゴミ箱はどこですか？ トイレはどこですか？ 交番はどこですか？
I think it boils down to simplicity.
In どこですか – です is doing two jobs in one. It is providing the existence confirmation (unspecific) AND politeness/formality.
While in どこにありますか / いますか – we have a separate existence verb ある/いる (can add specificity as to what is talked about), which also needs a logical particle to mark what is being acted on/with/to/towards etc., AND a separate ます politeness attachment.
So the way I see it, is どこですか is a more convenient, general option. It’s never wrong, it’s easier to say. And どこにありますか / いますか is when you want to be more specific about what you’re talking about, as well as not being in a rush to say it. So it might come off maybe a tiny bit more refined, but maybe also a bit more pompous? Don’t quote me on that last bit though.