Skip to main content
All Japanese study resources

Study Resource: Words for “which” or “what” in Japanese

By: Mayumi Ito

In Japanese, there are several different question words we can use to translate “which X?” or “what X?” questions. The word you use will depend on what kind of noun you are choosing between.

Type of nounQuestion WordExample

things; animals

何
Transcription: nani
Translation: what?
Speaker A:
スポーツの中で何がいちばん好きですか。
Transcription: Supōtsu no naka de nani ga ichiban suki desu ka.
Translation: Among sports, what do you like the best?
Speaker B:
サッカー (がいちばん好き)です。
Transcription: Sakkā (ga ichiban suki) desu.
Translation: I like soccer (the best).

places

どこ / どちら
Transcription: doko / dochira
Translation: where? / where? (polite)
Speaker A:
日本ではどこにいちばん行きたいですか。
Transcription: Nihon de wa doko ni ichiban ikitai desu ka.
Translation: In Japan, where do you want to go the most?
Speaker B:
京都 (にいちばん行きたい)です。
Transcription: Kyōto (ni ichiban ikitai) desu.
Translation: I want to go to Kyoto (the most).

people

だれ / どなた
Transcription: dare / donata
Translation: who? / who? (polite)
Speaker A:
家族でだれがいちばんおしゃべりですか。
Transcription: Kazoku de dare ga ichiban oshaberi desu ka.
Translation: Among your family, who is the most talkative?
Speaker B:
母 (がいちばんおしゃべり) です。
Transcription: Haha (ga ichiban oshaberi) desu.
Translation: My mother is (the most talkative).

time (in general)

いつ
Transcription: itsu
Translation: when?
Speaker A:
季節の中でいつがいちばん好きですか。
Transcription: Kisetsu no naka de itsu ga ichiban suki desu ka.
Translation: Among seasons, when do you like the best?
Speaker B:
春 (がいちばん好き) です。
Transcription: Haru (ga ichiban suki) desu.
Translation: I like spring (the best).

month

何月
Transcription: nangatsu
Translation: what month?
Speaker A:
日本では何月がいちばん雨が多いですか。
Transcription: Nihon de wa nan'gatsu ga ichiban ame ga ooi desu ka.
Translation: What month has the most rainfall in Japan?
Speaker B:
９月 (がいちばん雨が多い) です。
Transcription: Kugatsu (ga ichiban ame ga ooi) desu.
Translation: September (has the most rainfall).

day of the month

何日
Transcription: nan'nichi
Translation: what day of the month?
Speaker A:
今月は何日がいちばん都合がいいですか。
Transcription: Kongetsu wa nan'nichi ga ichiban tsugō ga ii desu ka.
Translation: Which day is the best day for you this month?
Speaker B:
３日 (がいちばん都合がいい)です。
Transcription: Mikka (ga ichiban tsugō ga ii) desu.
Translation: The third (is the best day for me).

day of the week

何曜日
Transcription: nan'yōbi
Translation: what day of the week?
Speaker A:
一週間のうち何曜日がいちばん忙しいですか。
Transcription: Isshūkan no uchi nan’yōbi ga ichiban isogashii desu ka.
Translation: Within the week, on what day of the week are you the busiest?
Speaker B:
火曜日 (がいちばん忙しい) です。
Transcription: Kayōbi (ga ichiban isogashii) desu.
Translation: (I'm the busiest on) Tuesdays.