How to Say ‘Polite question ending’ in Japanese
ですか
desu ka
[dess kah]
💬 Usage Tip: Add [ですか] to make a polite question. Intonation still matters, but this ending signals “I’m asking politely.”
🇯🇵 In Japan: In customer service, [ですか] questions are the default. Being overly blunt can feel sharp, so this ending helps you sound respectful.
Phrase Breakdown
です
desu
[dess]
to be (polite); is/are
Polite copula. Used to make polite statements and to soften tone. Often follows nouns/adjectives or set phrases.
これは私の本です。
This is my book.
か
ka
[kah]
question particle (polite)
Placed at the end to turn a sentence into a question in polite speech. Rising intonation is common.
今、時間ありますか。
Do you have time now?
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