Lesson 8: Question Words (who/what/when/where/why)

いつ itsu - when

いつ きました か？ 
itsu kimashita ka? 
When did you come? 
[lit. when came? notice the "you" is understood.]

どこ doko - where

どこ から きました か？ 
doko kara kimashita ka?
Where did you come from? 
[lit. where from came?]

どうして doushite - why

どうして きました か？ 
doushite kimashita ka?
Why did you come? 
[lit. why came?]

なぜ naze - why

なぜ 
naze? 
Why?
[used in the same way as doushite]

だれ dare - who

だれが きました か。 
dare ga kimashita ka? 
Who came?

何 nani - what

なにを買いましたか。 
nani o kaimashita ka.
What did you buy?

Note:

Even with the question word a かka is generally used. (Except in casual spoken Japanese)

The question word is at the beginning, but after は wa if there is one.

あなた は だれ です か？
anata wa dare desu ka?
Who are you? (the question word dare is after the wa)