How to Say ‘Do you have children?’ in Japanese
お子さんはいますか。
o ko san wa i masu ka
[oh koh sahn wah i mahs kah]
💬 Usage Tip: は here is said (wa), not (ha). Use います for people and animals; for things you'd switch to あります (arimasu).
Phrase Breakdown
お子さんは
o ko san wa
As for (your) children
お子さん (okosan) is the polite word for someone else's child or children. は (wa) marks the topic. It is written は but pronounced 'wa'.
お子さんはお元気ですか。
Are your children well?
Words in this phrase
お
o
[oh]
honorific prefix
Makes 荷物 more polite in customer service language.
おを付けると丁寧です。
Adding お makes it polite.
子
ko
[koh]
child
子 means “child.” Combined with いい, it means “good child.”
あの子をいい子にする。
Make that child into a good child.
さん
san
[sahn]
Mr.; Ms.; polite suffix
さん is a polite suffix attached to people's roles or names, adding respect.
おじいさんがきました。
Grandfather came.
は
wa
[wah]
topic marker
Marks the topic; in 次は it means as for next or next, then.
次は何を見るか、教えてください。
Please tell me what we look at next.
いますか。
i masu ka
Do you have? / Are there?
います (imasu) means 'to exist' or 'to have', for people and animals. か (ka) turns the sentence into a question. Say it 'imas-ka'.
犬はいますか。
Do you have a dog?
Words in this phrase
い
i
[i]
be; exist
Part of 〜ている, showing an ongoing action or continuing state.
お待ちし てい ます。
I am waiting.
ます
masu
[mahs]
polite verb ending
A polite ending added to verbs in everyday formal speech.
資料を送りますと伝えました。
I said that I will send the materials.
か
ka
[kah]
question particle
「か」で依頼を質問の形にします。語尾を上げると自然です。
手順を説明してもらえますか。
Could you explain the procedure?
Get the Full Learning Experience
This lesson is just a preview. Download PrettyFluent to practice pronunciation, roleplay conversations, and master vocabulary with spaced repetition.
Pronunciation Feedback
AI-powered speech recognition to perfect your accent
Spaced Repetition
Retain vocabulary long-term with smart practice
Immersive Roleplaying
Practice real conversations with AI partners
Custom Scenarios
Request lessons tailored to your specific needs
Get Full LessonWhat Learners Are Saying
“Teaching in Osaka and I wanted to connect with my students beyond the classroom. The everyday conversation scenarios made my Japanese feel natural, not textbook-y.”
Mia S., 25, English Teacher
“I hop cities every few months and this is the only app that actually prepares me for living somewhere, not just visiting. Tokyo was the real test — passed with flying colors.”
James O., 28, Remote Worker
“I tried five different apps before this one. The roleplay conversations are what finally made things click. I actually remember what I learn now.”
Sofia R., 31, Marketing Manager