出身
shusshin
The English phrase "where you come from" is translated into Japanese as 出身 (shusshin).
出身 (shusshin) is used to indicate one's origin or the fact of hailing from a specific place, such as the place where a person was born or grew up.
What does it mean word for word?
The word is composed of two kanji: 出, which means "exit" or "to go out" and 身, which means "body" or "person". Together, they literally mean "the origin of the person".
How does it change in a sentence?
To express that a place is one's place of origin, use the pattern [Place] + 出身です. To ask someone where they are from in a polite manner, you can use the pattern [Place] + 出身ですか. A common way to ask "Where are you from?" is to use どこ (where) + 出身ですか.
How do you pronounce it?
shusshin
Did you know?
- The kanji 身 in 出身 does not just mean 'body' but carries a nuance of 'social standing' or 'status'. Historically, the term was linked to the social class or rank a person was born into.
- In Japanese, you can also use 出身 to describe your origin from a specific school, university, or even a certain professional field. For example, saying you are a 'Kyoto University shusshin' implies you graduated from there.
- Japanese people may use 出身 to describe a region even if they were born elsewhere but spent their formative years there. This reflects a cultural emphasis on where one's identity was shaped rather than just the biological site of birth.
Examples in context
- 私はアメリカ出身です。I am from America.
- アメリカ出身だよ。I'm from America.
- フランス出身です。外国人です。I am from France. I am a foreigner.
- 私はカナダ出身です。I am from Canada.
- 私はイギリス出身です。I am from the United Kingdom.
- 私は韓国出身です。I am from South Korea.
- オーストラリア出身だよ。I'm from Australia.
- ブラジル出身だよ。I'm from Brazil.
- フィリピン出身だよ。I'm from the Philippines.
- 出身はどこですか？Shusshin wa doko desu ka?Where are you from?
- 私の出身は大阪です。Watashi no shusshin wa Osaka desu.I am from Osaka.
- 出身地は北海道ですか？Shusshinchi wa Hokkaido desu ka?Is your hometown Hokkaido?
Example conversation
Two students are introducing themselves on the first day of class.
- 大翔 Hiroto美咲さん、出身はどこですか。Misaki-san, shusshin wa doko desu kaMisaki, where are you from?
- 美咲 Misaki私は京都出身です。watashi wa kyōto shusshin desuI am from Kyoto.
- 大翔 Hiroto京都ですか！いいですね。kyōto desu ka! ii desu neKyoto! That's nice.
- 美咲 Misaki大翔さんはどこ出身ですか。Hiroto-san wa doko shusshin desu kaWhere are you from, Hiroto?
