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How to Say ‘When is the deadline?’ in Japanese

締め切りはいつですか。

shimekiri wa itsu desu ka

[shee-meh-KEE-ree wah ee-tsoo dess kah]

🇯🇵 In Japan: Asking for the deadline right away is expected and reads as diligent, not pushy.

Phrase Breakdown

締め切りは

shimekiri wa

the deadline (topic)

締め切り (shimekiri, deadline) + は (topic marker, said 'wa').

Example

締め切りは明日です。

The deadline is tomorrow.

Words in this phrase

締め切り

shimekiri

[shee-meh-KEE-ree]

deadline

The final time or date by which work must be done.

Example

締め切りは明日です。

The deadline is tomorrow.

は

wa

[wah]

topic marker

は marks the topic of the sentence.

Example

空席はありますか。

Are there any seats available?

いつですか。

itsu desu ka

when is it?

Polite question asking 'when'.

Example

会議はいつですか。

When is the meeting?

Words in this phrase

いつ

itsu

[ee-tsoo]

when

Question word used to ask about time.

Example

いつ会える?

When can we meet?

です

desu

[dess]

is; polite copula

A polite sentence ending used in formal conversation.

Example

少し伺いたいです。

I would like to ask a little.

か

ka

[kah]

question marker

Placed at the end of a sentence to make it a question.

Example

A席はありますか。

Are there A seats available?

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