📍❓

How to Say ‘Where are they?’ in Japanese

どこにありますか。

doko ni ari masu ka

[doh-koh nee ah-ree mahs kah]

💬 Usage Tip: Use あります for where things are, and います for people and animals: トイレはどこにありますか "Where is the toilet?" but 店員さんはどこにいますか "Where is the clerk?"

Phrase Breakdown

どこに

doko ni

Where

どこ (doko) means 'where'. に (ni) marks a location. Say 'do-ko-ni' evenly.

Example

どこに行きますか。

Where are you going?

Words in this phrase

どこ

doko

[doh-koh]

where

A question word for asking about a place or location.

Example

展示はどこですか。

Where is the exhibit?

に

[nee]

in; at; to

Particle indicating location or target state.

Example

手元に置きたいです。

I want to keep it at hand.

ありますか。

ari masu ka

is it?

あります (arimasu) means 'there is', used for things. か makes it a question. Say 'a-ri-mas-ka'.

Example

時間はありますか。

Do you have time?

Words in this phrase

あり

ari

[ah-ree]

exist; there is

Used to ask whether something exists.

Example

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.

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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