出身
shusshin
The English phrase 'where someone is from' is expressed in Japanese using 出身 (shusshin).
出身 refers to a person's place of origin. This can be used broadly to describe someone's hometown, the prefecture where they grew up or the country they are from.
How does it change in a sentence?
To say "I am from [place]", use the pattern [Place] + 出身です. To ask someone "Are you from [place]?", use the pattern [Place] + 出身ですか. When using the word as an adjective to describe a person (for example, "a person from Tokyo"), use the form 出身の.
How do you pronounce it?
shusshin
Did you know?
- If you are a student at a university, you might use 出身 to describe your alma mater rather than your physical location. In this context, it refers to the institution you graduated from rather than the city you grew up in.
- The character 出 in 出身 means 'to leave' or 'go out', suggesting that one's origin is the place they departed from.
- When asked about their 出身, Japanese people will often name the specific prefecture rather than just saying 'Japan'.
Examples in context
- 私の出身は北海道です。Watashi no shusshin wa Hokkaido desu.I am from Hokkaido.
- 彼女の出身は大阪だそうです。Kanojo no shusshin wa Osaka da sō desu.I heard her hometown is Osaka.
Example conversation
Misaki and Kenta are introducing themselves at a party.
- 美咲 Misaki健太さん、出身はどこですか？Kenta-san, shusshin wa doko desu ka?Kenta, where are you from?
- 健太 Kenta私は大阪出身です。Watashi wa Ōsaka shusshin desu.I am from Osaka.
- 美咲 Misakiそうなんですね！Sō nan desu ne!I see!
- 健太 Kenta美咲さんはどこ出身ですか？Misaki-san wa doko shusshin desu ka?Where are you from, Misaki?
