🇯🇵🙋❌❓

How to Say ‘You're not Japanese, are you?’ in Japanese

日本の方じゃないですよね？

nihon no hou ja nai desu yo ne

[nee-HOHN no KAH-tah ja nai dess yo neh]

🇯🇵 In Japan: Guessing someone's nationality can feel intrusive, so it's best used only when they've clearly signaled it, like speaking another language; otherwise asking where they're from is gentler.

Phrase Breakdown

日本の方

nihon no hou

a Japanese person

方 (kata) is a polite way to say 'person'.

Example

日本の方ですか？

Are you Japanese?

Words in this phrase

日本

nihon

[nee-HOHN]

Japan

The name of the country. With の it describes something or someone from Japan.

Example

日本は島の国です。

Japan is an island country.

の

[no]

's; of

A particle that shows possession or connection between nouns.

Example

知り合いの会社に興味があります。

I am interested in an acquaintance's company.

方

hou

[KAH-tah]

person (polite)

A polite word for 'person'; 'X no kata' means a person from X.

Example

あの方は先生です。

That person is a teacher.

じゃないですよね？

ja nai desu yo ne

you're not, are you?

じゃない means 'is not'. よね checks your guess with the listener. Raise your pitch at the end.

Example

学生じゃないですよね？

You're not a student, are you?

Words in this phrase

じゃ

[ja]

is not

Negative form of the copula, indicating a negative state or action.

Example

それじゃない。

That's not it.

ない

nai

[nai]

not

Indicates negation or absence.

Example

問題はない。

There is no problem.

です

desu

[dess]

is; polite copula

A polite sentence ending used in formal conversation.

Example

少し伺いたいです。

I would like to ask a little.

よ

[yo]

you know

Particle used for emphasis or to assert information.

Example

わかるよね。

You know, right?

ね

[neh]

isn't it?; right?

A sentence-ending particle used to seek agreement or add warmth.

Example

すばらしい経験ですね。

That's wonderful experience, isn't it?

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