How to Say ‘Is there? / do you have?’ in Japanese
はありますか
wa ari masu ka
[wah ah-ree mahs kah]
💬 Usage Tip: [ありますか] asks whether something exists or is available. With [は], as in [段差はありますか], it puts focus on that specific thing: "as for a step, is there one?"
Phrase Breakdown
は
wa
[wah]
topic marker
Marks the topic of the question. Here it highlights what you are asking about.
入口はありますかと聞く前に場所を見ます。
Before asking 'Is there an entrance?', I look at the location.
あり
ari
[ah-ree]
exist; there is
From ある, used for the existence of things. あり is the polite stem.
段差はありますかと確認しました。
I checked by asking, 'Are there any steps?'
ます
masu
[mahs]
polite verb ending
Adds politeness to the verb in formal conversation.
入口はありますかと丁寧に聞きます。
I politely ask, 'Is there an entrance?'
か
ka
[kah]
question marker
Placed at the end of a sentence to make it a question.
段差はありますかと店員に聞きました。
I asked the staff, 'Are there any steps?'
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