に行ったことがありますか
ni itta koto ga arimasu ka
The Japanese phrase for "have you been to" is に行ったことがありますか (ni itta koto ga arimasu ka).
This construction is used to ask if someone has visited a specific place at any time in their life. It is used for general life experiences rather than asking if someone has just recently arrived at a location.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase literally translates to "Is there the experience of having gone to?"
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
In casual speech with friends, you can drop the masu ka and use the dictionary form に行ったことがある? with a rising intonation.
How does it change in a sentence?
The phrase uses the past tense verb itta (went) combined with koto ga aru (to have the experience of) to express completed life experiences.
How do you pronounce it?
ni itta koto ga arimasu ka
Did you know?
- In highly polite or formal Japanese, you can replace itta with irasshatta. This changes the phrase to にいらっしゃったことがありますか, which is used when speaking to a superior or a customer.
- The word こと (koto) used here is a 'nominalizer' that turns a whole sentence into a noun. This allows Japanese to treat a life event as a tangible object that one can 'possess' via the verb ある (aru).
- When asking about visiting a sacred place like a shrine or temple, speakers sometimes use 参拝した (sanpai shita) instead of 行った (itta) to specify the act of worship.
Examples in context
- 日本だと、どこに行ったことがありますか？Where have you been to in Japan?This sentence is useful for asking where someone has been to in Japan using に行ったことがありますか.Tatoeba #10089468 by small_snow, translation #10300897 by terrywallwork
- オーストラリアに行ったことがありますか？Have you been to Australia before?This sentence is useful for asking if someone has been to Australia using に行ったことがありますか.Tatoeba #10326091 by small_snow, translation #7191385 by CK
- 今までヨーロッパに行ったことがありますか。Have you been to Europe before?This sentence is useful for asking if someone has been to Europe using に行ったことがありますか.Tatoeba #172577 by bunbuku, translation #12421088 by CK
- 1 more sentence on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Two friends are talking about travel plans at a cafe.
- 美咲 Misaki大翔さんは、アメリカに行ったことがありますか。Hiroto-san wa, Amerika ni itta koto ga arimasu ka.Hiroto, have you been to America?
- 大翔 Hirotoいいえ、一度もありません。Iie, ichido mo arimasen.No, never.
- 美咲 Misakiいつか行ってみたいですね。Itsuka itte mitai desu ne.I want to try going there someday.
- 大翔 Hirotoそうですね、僕も行ってみたいです。Sō desu ne, boku mo itte mitai desu.That's true, I want to go too.
Sources
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
