How do you say "What is it about?" in Japanese?

"What is it about?" in Japanese is "何について書いてありますか。". This phrase is commonly used in Japan.

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How to Say ‘What is it about?’ in Japanese

Q: What does "何について書いてありますか。" mean in English?

"何について書いてありますか。" means "What is it about?" in English. Usage tip: Literally, “What is written about?” [〜について] means “about ~,” and [書いてありますか] makes it a polite question.

何について書いてありますか。

nan ni tsui te kai te ari masu ka

[na-ni nee tsu-ee teh ka-ee teh a-ree mass ka]

💬 Usage Tip: Literally, “What is written about?” [〜について] means “about ~,” and [書いてありますか] makes it a polite question.

🇯🇵 In Japan: Japanese often asks about content in an indirect, softer way like this rather than using a blunt “What is it?”

Phrase Breakdown

何

nan

[na-ni]

what

Question word asking for information about a thing.

Example

何を食べますか。

What will you eat?

に

[nee]

about; concerning

Particle used with ついて to mean 'about' or 'concerning'.

Example

日本について話しましょう。

Let's talk about Japan.

つい

tsui

[tsu-ee]

attach; concerning

Part of について, a grammar pattern meaning 'about'.

Example

先生について学びます。

I learn about the teacher.

て

[teh]

and; -te form connector

Te-form ending that links to the following auxiliary expression.

Example

起きて水を飲みます。

I get up and drink water.

書い

kai

[ka-ee]

write; written

Verb stem from 書く, used here in the pattern 'is written'.

Example

手紙を書いています。

I am writing a letter.

て

[teh]

and; -te form connector

Te-form ending that links to the following auxiliary expression.

Example

起きて水を飲みます。

I get up and drink water.

あり

ari

[a-ree]

exist; be

Part of あります; in this expression it helps mean 'there is written' or 'it says'.

Example

壁に絵がありました。

There was a picture on the wall.

ます

masu

[mass]

polite verb ending

Makes the verb polite in present/future tense.

Example

学校へ行きます。

I go to school.

か

[ka]

question marker

Sentence-final particle used to ask a question.

Example

大丈夫ですか。

Are you okay?

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