How to Say ‘Where do you live, Mr. Smith?’ in Japanese
Smith さんはどちらにお住まいですか。
Smith san wa dochira ni o sumai desu ka
[sahn wah dochira nee oh soo-MAH-ee dess kah]
🇯🇵 In Japan: This polite form suits someone you've just met at a business event. With friends you'd say どこに住んでるの？ instead.
Phrase Breakdown
どちらに
dochira ni
where (polite)
どちら (dochira) is a polite form of どこ, 'where'. に (ni) marks the location.
どちらにお勤めですか。
Where do you work?
Words in this phrase
どちら
dochira
[dochira]
which place; where
A polite way to ask which destination or location.
どちらへ向かいますか。
Where are you heading?
に
ni
[nee]
in; at; to
Particle indicating location or target state.
手元に置きたいです。
I want to keep it at hand.
お住まいですか。
o sumai desu ka
do you live?
An honorific way to ask where someone lives. Say o-su-ma-i de-su ka.
近くにお住まいですか。
Do you live nearby?
Words in this phrase
お
o
[oh]
honorific prefix
お adds politeness to certain words and expressions.
チケットを二枚お願いします。
Two tickets, please.
住まい
sumai
[soo-MAH-ee]
residence; living
Noun for where one lives; with お it politely asks about someone's home.
お住まいはどこですか。
Where do you live?
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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