How to Say ‘Is it?/are you? (polite question ending)’ in Japanese
ですか
ですか
💬 Usage Tip: Add [ですか] to make a polite question: [しゅみは なんですか] = “What is your hobby?”
🇯🇵 In Japan: In friendly settings, you’ll also hear rising intonation without [ですか], but [ですか] is a safe polite default.
Word-by-Word Breakdown
ですです
[desu]
to be (polite)
Polite copula used in questions too. Combine with か to make a polite question (e.g., 趣味は何ですか).
趣味は何ですか。
What is your hobby?
かか
[ka]
question marker
Sentence-ending particle that turns a statement into a (polite) question. Very common in self-introductions to ask about hobbies: 〜ですか / 〜ますか.
週末は何をしますか。
What do you do on weekends?
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