What does it mean word for word?
The phrase can be broken down into its components: shusshin means origin or one's place of departure, and doko means where.
Which one should you use?
The standard polite form is 出身はどこですか？ For a more formal approach, you can use どちらの出身ですか？, お出身はどちらですか？ or the very formal ご出身地はどちらですか？ which uses the respectful prefix go. In informal or casual settings, you might use 出身はどこ？, the even shorter どこ出身？ or simply 出身は？ by omitting the end of the sentence.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
The form 出身はどこですか？ is the standard polite way to ask this question to strangers or acquaintances. Use どちらの出身ですか？, お出身はどちらですか？ or ご出身地はどちらですか？ to be more polite or formal. For friends or casual conversations, use 出身はどこ？, どこ出身？ or 出身は？
How does it change in a sentence?
In the phrase 出身はどこですか？, the particle wa marks shusshin (origin) as the topic of the sentence.
How do you pronounce it?
shusshin wa doko desu ka?
When do people say it?
When someone asks where you are from, you can respond by stating your location. You can use the simple pattern [Place name] からです or the pattern [Place name] 出身です to emphasize your place of birth or where you grew up.
Did you know?
- Depending on the region, some Japanese people might answer this question by naming their 'dialect' group rather than a specific town.
- The word shusshin shares its characters with words meaning 'departure' or 'starting point', as if your hometown is the station you left to begin your life's journey.
- Japanese people often follow their answer to this question with a comment about the local specialty or food of that region.
Examples in context
- すみません、初めてお会いしますが、どちらの出身ですか？Excuse me, it's our first meeting, but where are you from?
- 先週から一緒のクラスにいるけど、出身はどこ？We've been in the same class since last week, but where are you from?
- おい、どこ出身？あの辺どこ？Hey, where are you from? Whereabouts in that area?
- 東京からです。I am from Tokyo.
- 福岡出身です。I am from Fukuoka.
- もしよければ、出身はどこですか？Moshi yokereba, shunshin wa doko desu ka?If you don't mind, where are you from?
Example conversation
Two students are introducing themselves at a university orientation.
- 陽太 Yota陽葵さんは、出身はどこですか？Himari-san wa, shunshin wa doko desu ka?Himari, where are you from?
- 美咲 Misaki京都です。Kyoto desu.I am from Kyoto.
- 陽太 Yotaそうなんですね！Sou nan desu ne!I see!
- 美咲 Misaki陽太さんの出身はどこですか？Youta-san no shunshin wa doko desu ka?Where are you from, Youta?
