How to Say ‘What do you do when they fight?’ in Japanese
けんかの時はどうしますか。
kenka no toki wa dou shi masu ka
[ken-ka noh jee wah doo shee mahss ka]
💬 Usage Tip: Here は (wa), not (ha), marks けんかの時 as the situation being asked about: "as for fight time, what do you do?"
Phrase Breakdown
けんかの時は
kenka no toki wa
as for when there's a fight
けんかの時 (kenka no toki) means 'when there's a fight'. は is pronounced 'wa' here and marks the topic.
けんかの時は話を聞きます。
When there's a fight, I listen.
Words in this phrase
けんか
kenka
[ken-ka]
fight; quarrel
A disagreement or fight, often between friends, siblings, or family members.
ともだちとけんかした。
I had a fight with my friend.
の
no
[noh]
of; linking particle
Connects 'usual' to 'road.'
いつもの道を使いたいです。
I'd like to use the usual road.
時
toki
[jee]
time
Refers to the time part of a reservation.
日時の時は七時です。
The time part of the date and time is seven o’clock.
は
wa
[wah]
topic marker
は marks the topic of the sentence.
空席はありますか。
Are there any seats available?
どうしますか。
dou shi masu ka
what do you do?
This is a polite question asking what action someone takes. Hold the long 'dou'.
週末はどうしますか。
What will you do this weekend?
Words in this phrase
どう
dou
[doo]
how; in what way
どう asks about manner or method: 'how?' or 'what should one do?'
どういきますか。
How do you go?
し
shi
[shee]
do
し is the stem of する, meaning to do.
予約しします。
I do the reservation.
ます
masu
[mahss]
polite non-past ending
Completes the polite expression します.
いつもの道のほうが早い気がします。と控えめに話しました。
I spoke modestly, saying, 'I feel the usual road is faster.'
か
ka
[ka]
question particle
Added at the end of a sentence to indicate a question.
お茶を飲みますか？
Do you drink tea?
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