How to Say ‘Where did you buy it?’ in Japanese
どこでかいましたか。
doko de kai mashi ta ka
[doh-koh de KAH-ee mah-shee tah kah]
🇯🇵 In Japan: Following a compliment with this question is a natural way to keep the moment friendly and show your praise is sincere. It's a common follow-up in Japan.
Phrase Breakdown
どこで
doko de
where (at what place)
'Doko' means where. 'De' marks the place where an action happens.
どこでたべますか。
Where will we eat?
Words in this phrase
どこ
doko
[doh-koh]
where
A question word asking about location or place.
どこに行くのですか。
Where are you going?
で
de
[de]
at; in
Indicates a location where an action takes place.
公園で遊びます。
I play at the park.
かいましたか。
kai mashi ta ka
did you buy (it)?
The polite past question form of 'kau' (to buy). 'Shi' is often soft: 'kaimash'ta ka'.
なにをかいましたか。
What did you buy?
Words in this phrase
かい
kai
[KAH-ee]
buy
The stem of the verb かう (to buy), used before polite endings like ます.
パンをかいます。
I buy bread.
まし
mashi
[mah-shee]
polite past stem
Part of the polite past ending in a verb phrase.
昨日は多くのことを学びました。
I learned many things yesterday.
た
ta
[tah]
past tense ending
This ending completes the polite past tense form.
空席がございまし た。
There were vacant seats.
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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