これは何ですか？
The English phrase "what is this?" can be translated into Japanese as これは何ですか？
The phrase これは何ですか？ specifically refers to an object near the speaker.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of several parts: これ (this), which refers to an object near the speaker. 何 (what). And the ending ですか, which functions as the polite question form of the verb "to be".
Which one should you use?
While これは何ですか？ is used for objects near the speaker, you should use それは何ですか？ instead when the object is near the listener.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
There are different levels of formality. これは何ですか？ is a formal way to ask the question. For a more formal or elaborate way, you can use これは何というものですか？ For casual settings, use the informal これは何？ or the shortened version これ、何？ when speaking with friends or family.
How does it change in a sentence?
In the phrase これは何ですか？, the particle は is used to mark これ (this) as the topic of the sentence.
Did you know?
- When asking これは何ですか？ about a person's identity or occupation, using this specific phrasing can sound extremely blunt or even rude. For people, it is much more polite to use the word 方 (kata) instead of the generic これ or 何.
- In Japanese, the word これ (this) is part of a strict three-tier system: これ (near me), それ (near you), and あれ (far from both of us). If an object is across the room from both people, you must use あれ instead of これ or それ.
- The particle は in これは何ですか？ is written as the character for 'ha' but pronounced as 'wa' when it marks the topic of a sentence.
Examples in context
- これは何ですか？Kore wa nan desu ka?What is this?
- すみません、これは何ですか？Sumimasen, kore wa nan desu ka?Excuse me, what is this?
Example conversation
Yui finds a mysterious box in the living room.
- 結衣 Yui陽太くん、これは何ですか？Yuta-kun, kore wa nan desu ka?Yuta, what is this?
- 陽太 Yotaそれは僕の新しいカメラです。Sore wa boku no atarashii kamera desu.That is my new camera.
- 結衣 Yuiとてもかっこいいですね！Totemo kakkoii desu ne!It is very cool!
- 陽太 Yotaありがとう、結衣。Arigatou, Yui.Thank you, Yui.
