How to Say ‘How do I take it?’ in Japanese
どうやって飲みますか。
dou yatsu te nomi masu ka
[dou yat teh NOH-mee mahs kah]
💬 Usage Tip: Japanese uses 飲みます "drink" for taking any medicine by mouth, even pills. どうやって "how" also works for other things: どうやって行きますか "how do I get there?".
Phrase Breakdown
どうやって
dou yatsu te
how / in what way
Use this to ask about a method. Hold the long 'dō', and make a short pause (small っ) before 'te': 'dō-yat-te'.
どうやって行きますか。
How do I get there?
Words in this phrase
どう
dou
[dou]
how
Interrogative pro-adverb used to ask about manner or state.
どうしたらいいですか？
What should I do?
やっ
yatsu
[yat]
to do
A verb indicating performance of an action.
それをやってみます。
I'll try doing it.
て
te
[teh]
and; -te form
A linking form used to connect verbs to following grammar, such as progressive or polite forms.
仕事を探している人と話しました。
I spoke with a person who is looking for work.
飲みますか。
nomi masu ka
do (I) take it?
飲みます means 'to drink'. Japanese also uses it for taking medicine. か turns the sentence into a question, so raise your voice slightly at the end.
コーヒーを飲みますか。
Do you drink coffee?
Words in this phrase
飲み
nomi
[NOH-mee]
take (medicine); drink
Stem of 飲む; in Japanese you 'drink' medicine.
薬を飲みます。
I take medicine.
ます
masu
[mahs]
polite verb ending
A standard polite ending added to verbs, often used in customer service and formal speech.
予約を確認し ます。
I will confirm the reservation.
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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