How to Say ‘Is there a trash can?’ in Japanese
ゴミ箱はありますか。
gomibako wa ari masu ka
[goh-mee-BAH-koh wah ah-ree mahs kah]
Phrase Breakdown
ゴミ箱は
gomibako wa
a trash can (topic)
ゴミ箱 (gomibako) means trash can; は is the topic particle, pronounced 'wa'.
ゴミ箱はどこですか。
Where is the trash can?
Words in this phrase
ゴミ箱
gomibako
[goh-mee-BAH-koh]
trash can
Noun for a garbage bin; ゴミ means trash and 箱 means box.
ゴミ箱に捨ててください。
Please throw it in the trash can.
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?
ありますか。
ari masu ka
is there? / do you have?
Polite question form of ある (aru), used for things that exist. Pronounced 'arimasu ka'.
トイレはありますか。
Is there a restroom?
Words in this phrase
あり
ari
[ah-ree]
exist; there is
Used to ask whether something exists.
入口に段差はありますか。と電話で聞きました。
I asked on the phone, 'Are there any steps at the entrance?'
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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