How to Say ‘Are you from Tokyo, Ms. Tanaka?’ in Japanese
田中さんは東京の方ですか。
tanaka san wa toukyou no hou desu ka
[tah-nah-kah sahn wah TOH-kyoh noh KAH-tah dess kah]
💬 Usage Tip: Add か to the end of a です sentence and it becomes a question. No change in word order is needed.
🇯🇵 In Japan: Japanese usually address people by name plus さん instead of saying "you". Calling someone あなた "you" directly can sound cold or awkward.
Phrase Breakdown
田中さんは
tanaka san wa
As for Mr./Ms. Tanaka
さん (san) is a polite title. The particle は is pronounced 'wa' here and marks the topic.
田中さんは先生です。
Ms. Tanaka is a teacher.
Words in this phrase
田中
tanaka
[tah-nah-kah]
Tanaka (name)
Part of the school name being stated clearly on the phone.
田中小学校です。
This is Tanaka Elementary School.
さん
san
[sahn]
Mr./Ms.; polite name suffix
Polite suffix added to names. Common and safe on first dates: 田中さん. Using さん shows respect and friendliness.
Smithさん、今日は会えて嬉しいです。
Mr./Ms. Smith, I’m happy to be able to meet you today.
は
wa
[wah]
topic marker
は marks the topic of the sentence.
空席はありますか。
Are there any seats available?
東京の方ですか。
toukyou no hou desu ka
are you a person from Tokyo?
か (ka) at the end turns the sentence into a question. Let your voice rise slightly on 'ka.'
大阪の方ですか。
Are you from Osaka?
Words in this phrase
東京
toukyou
[TOH-kyoh]
Tokyo
The capital city of Japan.
東京に住んでいます。
I live in Tokyo.
の
no
[noh]
of; linking particle
A particle that connects words, like showing possession or linking a day and time.
土曜日の七時にお願いします。
Saturday at seven, please.
方
hou
[KAH-tah]
person (polite)
A polite word for 'person'; 'X no kata' means a person from X.
あの方は先生です。
That person is a teacher.
です
desu
[dess]
is; polite copula
A polite sentence ending used in formal conversation.
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.
A席はありますか。
Are there A seats available?
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