What does it mean word for word?
これ (kore) means this. で (de) means with or by. 合っています (atte imasu) means is matching or is correct. か (ka) is the question particle. Literally it asks is it correct with this?
Which one should you use?
これで合っていますか？ is best for checking whether a process, method or specific answer is right, while Kore wa tadashii desu ka? focuses more on whether a fact is accurate. これは正しいでしょうか？ and これで正しいでしょうか？ use tadashii, correct or right, with deshou ka for a more formal and softer request for confirmation. これで合ってる？ and これって正しい？ are informal ways to ask.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
これで合っていますか？ is polite and fits most situations. これは正しいでしょうか？ and これで正しいでしょうか？ are more formal and softer. これで合ってる？ and これって正しい？ are informal and suit friends.
How does it change in a sentence?
The question uses the continuous form atte imasu to describe a state of being correct. Dropping the polite ending gives the casual これで合ってる？
How do you pronounce it?
It is pronounced kore de atte imasu ka? The double t in atte is a short pause before the t sound.
When do people say it?
A standard yes answer is はい、合っています。 (Hai, atte imasu), yes, it is correct. A standard no answer is いいえ、違います。 (Iie, chigaimasu), no, it is wrong.
Did you know?
- When answering これで合っていますか？, Japanese speakers often replace a direct 'no' with ちょっと… ('a little…') and trail off to avoid sounding too blunt.
- The word tadashii is used for moral truths or rules, so using it to ask a boss if a task is done correctly can sound like you are questioning the underlying principle.
- The verb au means 'to fit' or 'to match', implying that correctness in Japanese is viewed as two things fitting together like puzzle pieces.
Examples in context
- あの文章は正しいでしょうか？Is that sentence correct?
- この答えは合っていますか？Is this answer correct?
- 申し訳ありませんが、この文法は正しいですか？I'm sorry, but is this grammar correct?
- この単語の発音、合ってる？Is the pronunciation of this word correct?
- 電話番号、これって正しい？Is this phone number correct?
- これで合っていますか？kore de atte imasu ka?Is this correct?
- 答えはこれで合っていますか？kotae wa kore de atte imasu ka?Is this the correct answer?
- 使い方はこれで合っていますか？tsukaikata wa kore de atte imasu ka?Is this the correct way to use it?
Example conversation
A student asks a teacher about a math problem.
- 陽葵 Himari先生、これで合っていますか？sensei, kore de atte imasu ka?Teacher, is this correct?
- 蓮 Renはい、陽葵さん、これで合っていますよ。hai, Himari-san, kore de atte imasu yo.Yes, Himari, it is correct.
- 陽葵 Himariよかったです！yokatta desu!That's a relief!
- 蓮 Ren蓮さんも、計算を確かめてみてください。Ren-san mo, keisan o tashikame te mite kudasai.Ren, please check your calculations too.
