どこ
doko[do̞ko̞]
The English word "where" is translated into Japanese as どこ (doko).
どこ is used as an adverb to ask at or in what place something is or occurs.
Meaning: at or in what place (adv)
Which one should you use?
While どこ is the standard way to ask "where", どちら can be used as a more polite alternative when asking for a location or a direction.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
When asking about a destination or a location where something exists, どこ is often followed by the particles に or へ (to where / in where). When asking about the location where an action takes place, it is followed by the particle で (at where / in where).
How do you pronounce it?
doko
Did you know?
- The word どこ first appeared in written records around 1790 in 洒落本, which were a genre of popular satirical books focusing on the pleasure quarters of Edo.
- Depending on the context, どこ can be used metaphorically to ask about a person's origin or affiliation, such as which company or school they belong to, rather than a physical coordinate.
- Asking どこですか 'Where is it?' can sometimes be considered too direct in high-level hospitality. Staff may use どちらでございますか to make the inquiry feel softer and less like an interrogation.
Examples in context
- ジムはどこ？Where is Jim?This sentence is useful for asking for the location of a person using どこ.Tatoeba #216011 by bunbuku, translation #53312 by CN
- ここはどこ？Where am I?This sentence is useful for asking about your current location using どこ.Tatoeba #3491573 by tommy_san, translation #255212 by adjusting
- どこ行くの？Where are you going to?This sentence is useful for asking about someone's destination using どこ.Tatoeba #3595435 by tommy_san, translation #371443 by saeb
- すみません、駅はどちらですか？Excuse me, could you please tell me where the train station is?
- 田中さん、お住まいはどちらですか？Mr./Ms. Tanaka, where do you live?
- さっきのレストラン、どこにあるの？Where is that restaurant we went to earlier?
- 友達は今どこにいるの？Where is your friend right now?
- どっちに行く？Which way are you going? / Where are you heading?
- 1285 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Two friends are looking for a lost smartphone in a cafe.
- 大翔 Hirotoスマホ、どこにある？Sumaho, doko ni aru?Where is my smartphone?
- 結衣 Yuiさっき、あそこに置いたよ。Sakki, asoko ni oita yo.You put it over there a moment ago.
- 大翔 Hirotoあそこ？どこにもないよ。Asoko? Doko ni mo nai yo.There? It's nowhere to be found.
- 結衣 Yui机の下を見てみて。Tsukue no shita o mite mite.Try looking under the table.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry どこ, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries どこ, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
