How to Say ‘Where is it stuck?’ in Japanese
どこで止まっているの？
doko de tomatsu te iru n
[doh-koh deh toh-maht teh ee-roo noh]
💬 Usage Tip: [どこで止まっているの？] is casual. In formal situations, [どこで止まっていますか？] is safer.
🇯🇵 In Japan: At work in Japan, asking where something is stuck is common, but making it sound cooperative rather than blaming is important.
Phrase Breakdown
どこ
doko
[doh-koh]
where
Asks for the specific place or point in a process.
どこで問題が起きていますか。
Where is the problem happening?
で
de
[deh]
at; in; by
Marks the location or stage where something is happening or stuck.
ここで作業が止まりました。
The work stopped here.
止まっている
tomatsu te iru
is stopped; is stuck; is paused
Describes something currently not moving or not progressing.
電車が止まっている。
The train is stopped.
Words in this phrase
止まっ
tomatsu
[toh-maht]
stopped; stuck (stem)
Indicates the process has stopped or is blocked.
処理が止まっているようです。
It seems the processing has stopped.
て
te
[teh]
and; -te form
Connects the verb to いる to express a continuing state.
ドアが開いている。
The door is open.
いる
iru
[ee-roo]
is; ongoing state
Shows the state continues now, such as being stopped at present.
機械が動いている。
The machine is running.
の
n
[noh]
explanatory question particle
Softens the question and asks for explanation or background.
どうして遅れたの。
Why were you late?
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