Phrase lesson

How do you say "Where are you from?" in Japanese?

Friends出身

Where are you from?

Answer

Two layers, same practical line

どこしゅっしんですか

どこ / しゅっしん ですか

doko / shusshin desu ka

Lesson body

Phrase breakdown and usage notes

Quick use

Use どこしゅっしんですか (doko shusshin desu ka) when you ask where someone is originally from. It is about origin, not necessarily where they live now.

Chunk or pattern

  • Question chunk: どこ / しゅっしん ですか
  • Reusable answer pattern: 〜 / しゅっしん です
  • Useful answer examples: アメリカしゅっしんです, おおさかしゅっしんです.

Core words

  • しゅっしん: where someone is from.
  • どこ: where.

Helper words and endings

  • ですか: makes it a polite question.

Practical note

This is different from どこにすんでいますか, which asks where someone lives now.

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