何人ですか？
nanijin desu ka?
The phrase "what nationality are you?" in Japanese is 何人ですか？ (nanijin desu ka?)
This phrase is used to ask someone which country they are a citizen of.
Which one should you use?
While 何人ですか？ is the standard way to ask, 国籍は何ですか？ is a polite option for formal situations. For a more indirect and formal approach, you can use ご出身はどちらですか？ to ask about someone's place of origin. In casual settings, you can use 国籍は何？ or どこの国の人？ to ask which country someone is from.
How does it change in a sentence?
The question 何人ですか？ ends with the polite copula です and the question particle か to form a standard polite question.
How do you pronounce it?
nanijin desu ka?
When do people say it?
In Japanese social contexts, asking someone's nationality directly with 何人ですか？ can sometimes feel blunt or overly personal compared to English.
Did you know?
- The word 何人 can be read as 'nanijin' to ask for nationality or 'nannin' to ask how many people are in a group. The meaning changes entirely based on the pronunciation of the same two characters.
- If you are in a business setting, asking 何人ですか? can sound like you are interrogating a suspect. It is considered much more professional to ask about one's 'background' rather than their legal nationality.
- The term 国籍 (kokuseki) used in the formal version refers specifically to legal citizenship. While 'nationality' in English often refers to ethnic identity, 国籍 is strictly about the passport and legal status one holds.
Examples in context
- 失礼ですが、何人ですか？Shitsurei desu ga, nanjin desu ka?Excuse me, but what nationality are you?
- すみません、あの方は何人ですか？Sumimasen, ano kata wa nanjin desu ka?Excuse me, what nationality is that person?
Example conversation
Kenta and Yui are meeting for the first time at an international party.
- 健太 Kentaはじめまして。何人ですか？Hajimemashite. Nannin desu ka?Nice to meet you. What nationality are you?
- 結衣 Yui私はアメリカ人です。Watashi wa amerikajin desu.I am American.
- 健太 Kentaそうなんですね！So nan desu ne!I see!
- 結衣 Yui健太さんは日本人ですよね？Kenta-san wa nihonjin desu yo ne?Kenta, you are Japanese, right?
