How to Say ‘Is Mr. Tanaka there?’ in Japanese
田中さんはいらっしゃいますか。
tanaka san wa irasshai masu ka
[tah-NAH-kah sahn wah ee-rahs-SHAI mahss kah]
💬 Usage Tip: いらっしゃいます is a respectful way to say "to be (somewhere)", used to show respect for the person you're asking about. は here is said (wa).
Phrase Breakdown
田中さんは
tanaka san wa
Mr./Ms. Tanaka (topic)
さん is a polite name suffix. は is the topic marker and is read 'wa'.
田中さんは先生です。
Mr. Tanaka is a teacher.
Words in this phrase
田中
tanaka
[tah-NAH-kah]
Tanaka (surname)
A very common Japanese family name.
田中さんは会社員です。
Mr. Tanaka is an office worker.
さん
san
[sahn]
Mr./Ms. (name suffix)
Polite suffix attached to someone's name.
田中さん、こんにちは。
Hello, Mr. Tanaka.
は
wa
[wah]
topic marker; as for
Marks 'today' as the topic. Written は but pronounced 'wa.'
本日はお時間をいただき、ありがとうございます。
Thank you for giving me your time today.
いらっしゃいますか。
irasshai masu ka
is (he/she) there?
Honorific form of いますか. Hold the small っ as a short pause: 'irasshaimasu ka'.
部長はいらっしゃいますか。
Is the manager in?
Words in this phrase
いらっしゃい
irasshai
[ee-rahs-SHAI]
to be (honorific)
Honorific form of いる; used to politely ask if someone is present.
部長はいらっしゃいますか。
Is the manager in?
ます
masu
[mahss]
polite ending
A polite ending attached to verbs in formal speech.
まだありますか。
Are there still some available?
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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