何ですか？
The English phrase "what is it?" can be translated into Japanese as 何ですか？
何ですか？ is used to ask "what is it?" in a standard way.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of the word 何, which means "what" and the particle です, which functions as the copula "to be".
Which one should you use?
While 何ですか？ is a standard way to ask "what is it?", it can sound slightly blunt or direct if used when someone is trying to get your attention. In those cases, asking どうしましたか？ (meaning "what happened?") is often more natural.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
何ですか？ is a polite way to ask the question. For more informal situations, you can use なんだよ？ among friends or acquaintances or simply 何？ for an informal "what?"
How does it change in a sentence?
In the phrase 何ですか？, the particle です functions as the copula "to be".
Did you know?
- Japanese has a concept called kuuki wo yomu or 'reading the air', where asking 何ですか？ might be considered rude if the answer is obviously implied by the situation.
- When someone calls your name, replying with 何ですか？ can sound like you are annoyed, whereas はい is the standard way to say 'Yes, what is it?'
- In anime and manga, characters often use 何だ？ to express shock or disbelief, essentially asking 'What is this?' to themselves rather than to another person.
Examples in context
- あの建物は何ですか？What is that building?
- この言葉はどういう意味ですか？What does this word mean?
- それ、なんだよ？What is that?
- これは何ですか？Kore wa nan desu ka?What is this?
- あの箱の中は何ですか？Ano hako no naka wa nan desu ka?What is in that box?
Example conversation
Hiroto finds a mysterious gift on the table.
- 大翔 Hiroto美咲、これは何ですか？Misaki, kore wa nan desu ka?Misaki, what is this?
- 美咲 Misaki大翔、それはプレゼントですよ。Hiroto, sore wa purezento desu yo.Hiroto, that is a present.
- 大翔 Hiroto本当に？何ですか？Hontou ni? Nan desu ka?Really? What is it?
- 美咲 Misakiまだ内緒です。Mada naisho desu.It is still a secret.
