Use か to build and understand simple Japanese sentences. Add か after です to turn the statement into a polite question.
The idea
Add か after です to turn the statement into a polite question. Question words remain in their ordinary position; 何 asks what, and か still closes the sentence. The same か follows a polite verb ending in ます; the verb does not move to the front.
| Without か | With か |
|---|---|
| 学生です | 学生ですか |
| 何です | 何ですか |
| 行きます | 行きますか |
Examples
- 誰が来ますか。Who is coming?
- 田中さんは学生ですか。Is Tanaka a student?
- これは何ですか。What is this?
- どこに行きますか。Where are you going?
- コーヒーを飲みますか。Would you like coffee?
- これはペンですか。Is this a pen?
Read-aloud uses a synthetic Japanese voice available on your device. Voice quality and availability vary; it does not assess your pronunciation.
No Japanese device voice is available. You can still read the text and use the linked listening resources.
Watch out
In answers to negative questions, はい and いいえ often agree or disagree with the statement itself, so confirm the full meaning in context.
Try it yourself
学生です＿。（か／を）
Show answer or example answer
か
Add か after です to turn the statement into a polite question.
何です＿。（か／を）
Show answer or example answer
か
Question words remain in their ordinary position; 何 asks what, and か still closes the sentence.
行きます＿。（か／を）
Show answer or example answer
か
The same か follows a polite verb ending in ます; the verb does not move to the front.
Practice round
Answer questions, then rebuild Japanese sentences where available. We keep your score.
学生です＿。（か／を）
何です＿。（か／を）
行きます＿。（か／を）
Tap the words in the right order.
Tap the words in the right order.
Tap the words in the right order.
Keep your progress
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Write two Japanese sentences using か. Explain what each means, then compare the forms with the examples.