How to Say ‘Is that book by Haruki Murakami?’ in Japanese
その本、村上春樹ですか？
sono hon murakami haruki desu ka
[soh-noh hohn moo-rah-KAH-mee hah-ROO-kee dess ka]
💬 Usage Tip: In casual speech the little word after the topic is often dropped and replaced by a pause, so その本は becomes just その本、. Japanese also says simply "that book is Murakami?" with no word for "by".
🇯🇵 In Japan: Commenting on what someone is reading is one of the gentler openers in Japan, since it's about the book rather than them. Murakami is a safe bet: he's famous at home and abroad, so it's an easy bridge for a foreigner.
Phrase Breakdown
その本、
sono hon
That book,
その本 (sono hon) means 'that book (near you)'. It sets the topic.
その本、面白いですか？
Is that book interesting?
Words in this phrase
その
sono
[soh-noh]
that; those (near listener / previously mentioned)
Demonstrative for something already known/mentioned: その威力 = “that power.”
その威力 とくと見よ！と叫んだ。
He shouted, “Look well at that power!”
本
hon
[hohn]
book
A common noun for a book or volume.
この本は面白いです。
This book is interesting.
村上春樹ですか？
murakami haruki desu ka
is it (by) Haruki Murakami?
Naming the author is a natural way to ask who wrote the book.
この本、村上春樹ですか？
Is this book by Haruki Murakami?
Words in this phrase
村上
murakami
[moo-rah-KAH-mee]
Murakami (surname)
A common Japanese family name. Here it's the surname of the novelist Haruki Murakami.
村上さんは先生です。
Mr. Murakami is a teacher.
春樹
haruki
[hah-ROO-kee]
Haruki (given name)
A Japanese male first name. Together with Murakami it names the famous author.
春樹の小説が好きです。
I like Haruki's novels.
です
desu
[dess]
is; polite copula
A polite sentence ending used in formal conversation.
少し伺いたいです。
I would like to ask a little.
か
ka
[ka]
question particle
Used to create a yes/no question in informal speech.
行くか？
Shall we go?
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