Japanese Learning: Interrogative form of Noun Predicate Sentences; [Noun1]wa [Noun2]desuka.

When trying to learn a construction of the second language, it is better to know three forms of the construction; Positive, Negative, and Interrogative forms. As for noun predicate sentences, these three forms are shown as below.

1. Positive form: [Noun1]wa [Noun2]desu.

2. Negative form: [Noun1]wa [Noun2]dewa arimasen.

3. Interrogative form: [Noun1]wa [Noun2]desuka.

It is very simple to make an interrogative sentence. You just put a particle “-ka” at the end of the sentence.

Please note that now we are talking about only “yes-no questions” for interrogative form. “Wh-questions” and “alternative questions” are not dealt with today.

So, “[Noun1]wa [Noun2]desuka.” is a “yes-no questions”. How do we answer to the question in Japanese? In general, yes is “Hai”, no is “Iie (in three moras; I-I-E)”, but be careful, “Hai”and “Iie” are not exactly the same as “yes” and “no”.

-Hai : What you are saying is right (The answer is not always followed by a positive expression)

-Iie : What you are saying is not right (The answer is not always followed by a negative expression)

Although this issue “yes-no and hai-iie are not the same” does not has to do with today’s examples, please note the difference between usages of yes-no and hai-iie.

Take a look at examples of yes-no questions and answers with “hai” and “Iie”. “Ja” is the short form of “Dewa”, in the following case means “Then”.

A : Koukousei desuka?

B : Iie, watashi wa koukousei dewa arimasen.

A : Ja, Daigakusei desuka?

B : Hai, Watashi wa Daigakusei desu.

You will find that two questions by A don’t use “Anata (you in English)”. “Anata(=you)” is a word often used when a wife calls her husband. So, use the word “Anata” sparingly, or avoid to use.