Listen for the shape of a sentence as you compare statements with questions.
The idea
A neutral statement often ends with a falling pitch. A yes–no question can rise at the end; か marks the question even when the pitch does not rise. Question-word questions can also have a less pronounced rise.
Read the text
電車は九時に出ます。 電車は九時に出ますか。
明日はどこで会いますか。 駅で会います。
Examples
- 電車は九時に出ます。The train leaves at nine.
- 電車は九時に出ますか。Does the train leave at nine?
- 店は今日開いています。The shop is open today.
- 店は今日開いていますか。Is the shop open today?
- 明日は駅で会います。We will meet at the station tomorrow.
- 明日はどこで会いますか。Where will we meet tomorrow?
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
A rise is a useful cue, not a fixed rule: context, emphasis and speaker affect the contour. Sentence intonation is different from the pitch accent of individual words.
Try it yourself
電車は九時に出ます＿
Show answer or example answer
か
か marks the sentence as a question; a final rise can reinforce it.
店は今日開いています＿
Show answer or example answer
か
か turns the statement into a polite question about whether the shop is open.
明日は＿で会いますか。（どこ／はい）
Show answer or example answer
どこ
どこ asks where; the question word and か identify the question even without a strong rise.
Practice round
Answer questions, then rebuild Japanese sentences where available. We keep your score.
電車は九時に出ます＿
店は今日開いています＿
明日は＿で会いますか。（どこ／はい）
Tap the words in the right order.
Tap the words in the right order.
Tap the words in the right order.
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Read the transcript aloud, or use your device voice. Compare each statement with its question, then try the exercises.