💊❓

How to Say ‘Is medicine necessary?’ in Japanese

薬は必要ですか。

kusuri wa hitsuyou desu ka

[koo-SOO-ree wah hee-tsoo-yoh dess kah]

💬 Usage Tip: は here is said (wa). Asking "Xは必要ですか" is a reusable pattern: 予約は必要ですか "is a reservation necessary?"

Phrase Breakdown

薬は

kusuri wa

as for medicine

薬 (medicine) + は (topic marker, read 'wa'). Say 'ku-su-ri wa'.

Example

薬は食後に飲みます。

I take the medicine after meals.

Words in this phrase

薬

kusuri

[koo-SOO-ree]

medicine; drug

General word for medicine or medication.

Example

毎日薬を飲みます。

I take medicine every day.

は

[wah]

topic marker; as for

A particle that marks the topic. Written は but pronounced わ.

Example

今日は体のサイズを確認します。

As for today, I will check the body size.

必要ですか。

hitsuyou desu ka

is it necessary?

必要 (necessary) + ですか (polite question). Pause on the double p: 'hit-tsu-yō'.

Example

予約は必要ですか。

Is a reservation necessary?

Words in this phrase

必要

hitsuyou

[hee-tsoo-yoh]

necessary; needed

A na-adjective meaning something is necessary, required, or needed.

Example

水は必要です。

Water is necessary.

です

desu

[dess]

is; polite copula

Polite form of 'to be' used in many basic sentences.

Example

こちらで大丈夫です。

This is fine.

か

[kah]

question particle

か is placed at the end of a sentence to mark it as a question in polite Japanese.

Example

先生ですか。

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