How to Say ‘Since when does it hurt?’ in Japanese
いつからいたいですか。
itsu kara i tai desu ka
[ee-tsu kah-rah ee tah-ee dess kah]
💬 Usage Tip: You can answer with: [きのう] (yesterday), [きょう] (today), or a number of days like [３日くらい].
🇯🇵 In Japan: Giving a specific start time is appreciated; it helps them judge whether you need to see a doctor (e.g., sudden severe pain).
Phrase Breakdown
いつから
itsu kara
since when; from when
Asks the starting point of a situation. Common at hospitals: “Since when does it hurt?”
いつからにほんにいますか。
Since when have you been in Japan?
Words in this phrase
いつ
itsu
[ee-tsu]
when
Asks about time. With から, it becomes “since when.”
いつからいたいですか。
Since when has it been hurting?
から
kara
[kah-rah]
from; since
Shows the starting point. In this question it means “since.”
いつからいたいですか。
Since when has it been hurting?
いたいですか
i tai desu ka
does it hurt? / are you in pain?
Polite question form of 痛いです. Often used by medical staff about symptoms.
まだいたいですか。
Does it still hurt?
Words in this phrase
い
i
[ee]
(part of いたい)
First mora of いたい in the question.
いつからいたいですか。
Since when has it been hurting?
たい
tai
[tah-ee]
(part of いたい)
Second part of いたい, completing “hurts.”
いつからいたいですか。
Since when has it been hurting?
です
desu
[dess]
is (polite)
Polite form used in questions to medical staff/patients.
いつからいたいですか。
Since when has it been hurting?
か
ka
[kah]
(question marker)
Makes it a question: “Since when…?”
いつからいたいですか。
Since when has it been hurting?
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