Day 1:

Ask What Something Is

15mins

3min

Scroll’n Learn

Have you ever wondered how to ask a simple question when you don’t know something? Today, you’ll learn how to ask “What is it?” and ask for basic information such as someone’s name, job, hobby, or phone number.

Today's Goal

Ask what something is.
Ask for basic information about someone.
Turn simple statements into questions using か and 何.

1. Listen

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Read the script in Hiragana

田中：こんにちは
Hello.

さくら：こんにちは
Hello.

田中：がくせいですか？
Are you a student?

さくら：いいえ、しゃかいじんです。
No, I’m a working adult.

田中：すみません。
Excuse me.

さくら：おなまえはなんですか？
What is your name?

田中：たなかです。
My name is Tanaka.

さくら：がくせいですか？
Are you a student?

田中：はい、がくせいです。
Yes, I’m a student.

Read the script in Romaji

Tanaka: Konnichiwa
Hello.

Sakura: Konnichiwa
Hello.

Tanaka: Gakusei desu ka?
Are you a student?

Sakura: iie, shakaijin desu.
No, I’m a working adult.

Tanaka: Sumimasen.
Excuse me.

Sakura: O-namae wa nan desu ka?
What is your name?

Tanaka: Tanaka desu.
My name is Tanaka.

Sakura: Gakusei desu ka?
Are you a student?

Tanaka: Hai, gakusei desu.
Yes, I’m a student.

2. Understand

何 (Nani)

What does it do?

何 means “what.”

Use it to ask what something is.

Easy way to use this is by saying:

What is ____

____は何ですか

____wa nandesuka (Nani is pronounced nan when you add desu to the end).

For Example...

仕事は何ですか
しごとはなんですか
What is your job?

Pattern

[Topic] は何ですか。

3. Practice

The sentences below are example sentences combining new words of the day and the skills we learnt up till now.

名前は何ですか
なまえはなんですか
What is your name?

電話番号は何ですか
でんわばんごうはなんですか
What is your phone number?