On this page, you can learn how to answer questions in Japanese.
A question with a question word (except why)
If a question has a question word, you need to:
- replace the question word with the answer, then
- remove か at the end of a sentence
Here is an example.
You have a question below and let’s say its answer is ‘えき（station）’.
ケンはどこでお父さんとあうつもりですか。（Where does Ken intend to meet his father?）
How do you answer this question in Japanese?
- First of all, the question word is どこ（where）, so you need to replace it with the answer, えき（station）.
- Then, remove か at the end.
Therefore, the whole sentence to answer the question in Japanese is:
ケンはえきでお父さんとあうつもりです。（Ken intends to meet his father at the station.）
A why question
If a question has a question word ‘why’, you can’t apply the rule above.
You have to:
- make your own sentence to answer the reason, then
- place からです (Because) at the end of a sentence
Here is an example.
You have a question below and let’s say its answer is ‘Because Ken drank beer’.
どうしてケンのお母さんはケンをおこりましたか。（Why did Ken’s mother tell off Ken?）
The question is a why question, so you have to;
- Make your own sentence to give a reason, which is ‘Ken drank beer’
- Then, place からです after the sentence
Remember, you have to have a plain form in front of からです. Click here for more details.
Therefore, the whole sentence to answer the question in Japanese is:
ケンはビールをのんだからです。（Because Ken drank beer.）
A question without a question word
If a question does not have a question word, you need to:
- place はい（Yes） or いいえ（No） at the start of a sentence;
- change a verb into its negative form if いいえ is needed;
- remove か at the end of a sentence.
You have a question below and let’s say its answer is ‘No, Ken did not go to a party’.
ケンはパーティに行きましたか。（Did Ken go to a party?）
Firstly, the question is a yes-no question and the answer is ‘No, Ken did not go to a party’.
So you need to place いいえ at the start of a sentence.
Secondly, change ました into ませんでした, which is a negative form of ました.
Click here for more details on the verb form.
Lastly, remove か at the end.
Therefore, the whole sentence to answer the question in Japanese is:
いいえ、ケンはパーティに行きませんでした。（No, Ken did not go to a party）