How to Say ‘(polite question marker)’ in Japanese
ですか
desu ka
[dess kah]
💬 Usage Tip: Adds politeness + makes it a question. Rising intonation helps. In interviews, [〜でしょうか] can sound even softer/more formal.
🇯🇵 In Japan: Japanese interview questions are often phrased politely even when the content is direct—tone matters as much as words.
Phrase Breakdown
です
desu
[dess]
is/are (polite)
Polite copula used in questions and statements. With か, it forms a polite question.
その経験は必要ですか。
Is that experience necessary?
か
ka
[kah]
question particle (makes a question)
Placed at the end of a sentence to turn it into a question. Common in polite interview speech.
志望理由を教えていただけますか。
Could you tell me your reason for applying?
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