How to Say ‘What are you drinking?’ in Japanese
何を飲んでいるんですか？
nani o non de iru n desu ka
[na-ni wo NOHN deh ee-roo n dess kah]
💬 Usage Tip: The んです ending makes a question sound curious and engaged, like asking about something you've noticed. Compare it with the flatter 何を飲みますか？ "What will you drink?".
Phrase Breakdown
何を
nani o
what (as the object)
何 (nani) means 'what,' and を (o) marks it as the object of the verb. Read it as 'nani o'. In speech the two words often flow together as 'nanio'.
何を食べますか？
What will you eat?
Words in this phrase
何
nani
[na-ni]
what
Used to ask for information about something.
何が欲しい？
What do you want?
を
o
[wo]
direct object marker
Marks the direct object of a verb.
本を読む。
Read a book.
飲んでいるんですか？
non de iru n desu ka
are you drinking?
飲む (nomu) means 'to drink.' The ている form shows an ongoing action, and んですか adds a soft, curious tone. Read it as 'nonde iru n desu ka'. The ん is a short nasal sound.
今、コーヒーを飲んでいるんですか？
Are you drinking coffee now?
Words in this phrase
飲ん
non
[NOHN]
drink
Form of 飲む used before the te-ending で.
水を飲んでください。
Please drink water.
で
de
[deh]
(te-form connector)
Part of the te-form 混んで, linking the verb to いる to show an ongoing state.
道が混んでいます。
The road is congested.
いる
iru
[ee-roo]
to be doing; currently
Shows an ongoing state or habitual action.
その会社は社員を大切にしているようです。
That company seems to value its employees.
ん
n
[n]
(explanatory n)
Casual form of の; adds a tone of seeking or giving an explanation, often before です.
どうしたんですか。
What happened?
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
[kah]
question marker
Placed at the end of a sentence to make it a question.
A席はありますか。
Are there A seats available?
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