📖❓

How to Say ‘Are you studying?’ in Japanese

勉強していますか。

benkyou shi te i masu ka

[BEN-kyoh shee teh ee mahs kah]

💬 Usage Tip: Many activities are a noun plus します "do": 勉強 (benkyō) + します means "study". The final す is usually whispered: (benkyō shite imas ka).

Phrase Breakdown

勉強

benkyou

[BEN-kyoh]

study

Noun meaning study; with する it becomes 'to study'.

Example

毎日勉強します。

I study every day.

し

shi

[shee]

do (stem)

Verb stem used as part of the fixed polite request phrase.

Example

注文をお願いし、ます。

I would like to place the order, please.

て

[teh]

te-form ending

This ending connects actions, like 'cut and...' in instructions.

Example

てをつけると、つぎのどうさにつなげられます。

When you add -te, you can connect it to the next action.

い

[ee]

to be; ongoing state

Part of the progressive or current-state expression.

Example

空いていますかを確認します。

I will check whether they are available.

ます

masu

[mahs]

polite verb ending

A standard polite ending added to verbs, often used in customer service and formal speech.

Example

予約を確認します。

I will confirm the reservation.

か

[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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