What does it mean word for word?
The word どこ (doko) literally means 'where'.
Which one should you use?
While どこですか is a general way to ask 'where is', どこにありますか is specifically used for the location of inanimate objects, whereas どこにいますか is used for the location of living things.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
どこですか is the standard polite form. For a more formal way to ask 'Where is (it) located?', you can use どこにありますか or ～はどこにありますか. In informal settings, such as with friends or family, you might use the shortened どこ？ to mean 'where?' or the phrase どこだ to mean 'Where is it?'
How does it change in a sentence?
The phrase どこですか is the standard polite way to ask 'where is [something]' by combining the question word 'where' with the polite copula and a question particle. When asking for the location of an inanimate object, you can also use どこにありますか to be more specific about existence/location.
How do you pronounce it?
doko desu ka
When do people say it?
When asking for directions, it is customary to accompany your question with a slight bow as a sign of respect and appreciation.
Did you know?
- In Japanese, the word どこ can be replaced by どちら to make your question significantly more polite and indirect when asking for directions.
- In Japanese, you can ask どこですか to refer to a point in time or a stage in a process, such as asking 'Where are you (in a book/story)?', effectively treating time or progress as a physical location.
- When using どこですか to ask for a location, Japanese people often use their whole hand to point toward a direction instead of just an index finger, which can be seen as more polite than a single finger point.
Examples in context
- 駅はどこですか。Where is the railroad station?This sentence is useful for asking for the location of the railroad station using どこですか.Tatoeba #188894 by bunbuku, translation #26041 by CM
- 税関はどこですか。Where is the Customs Service?This sentence is useful for asking for the location of the Customs Service using どこですか.Tatoeba #142489 by bunbuku, translation #272081 by sacredceltic
- 食堂はどこですか。Where is the cafeteria?This sentence is useful for asking for the location of the cafeteria using どこですか.Tatoeba #145793 by small_snow, translation #268769 by CK
- ごみ箱はどこですか？Where is the trash can?
- スーパーはどこだ？Where is the supermarket?
- 111 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Misaki is looking for the restroom in a cafe.
- 美咲 Misakiすみません、トイレはどこですか。Sumimasen, toire wa doko desu ka.Excuse me, where is the restroom?
- 蓮 Renあそこですよ。Asoko desu yo.It is over there.
- 美咲 Misakiありがとうございます。Arigatou gozaimasu.Thank you very much.
- 蓮 Renいえいえ。Iie iie.No problem.
Sources
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
