Asking About Someone

Question 1

お名前は何ですか?

Answer 1

(Onamae wa nan desu ka?) – What is your name?:
This is a polite way to ask someone’s name. “Onamae” is the honorific form of “name.”

Question 2

どちらからですか？

Answer 2

(Dochira kara desu ka?) – Where are you from? (polite):
This is a polite way to ask someone’s origin. “Dochira” means “which direction,” and in this context, it refers to “where.”

Question 3

[Country] から来ました

Answer 3

([Country] kara kimashita) – I am from [Country]:
This is how you respond to the question of your origin. “[Country]” is replaced with the name of your country. “Kara kimashita” means “came from.”

“kara kimashita” is a very common way to state ones orgin.

Question 4

お仕事は何ですか？

Answer 4

(Oshigoto wa nan desu ka?) – What do you do for work?:
This is a polite way to ask someone’s occupation. “Oshigoto” is the honorific form of “work.”

Question 4

[Job] です

Answer 4

([Job] desu) – I am a [Job]:
This is how you state your job. “[Job]” is replaced with your occupation. “Desu” is a polite copula, similar to “is” or “am.”