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Japanese grammar · Beginner 1

いつitsu

asking when

Use 「いつ」 to ask when a birthday is; ask 「何日」 when you need the day of the month.

Start the interactive lessonIllustrated cards, audio and speaking practice

How it works

  1. Want to know when a birthday is? Use 「いつ」 to ask when. Look at how the person answers in the picture.

    Want to know when a birthday is? Use 「いつ」 to ask when. Look at how the person answers in the picture.

  2. To ask when a birthday is, say 「誕生日はいつですか」. Put what you want to ask about before 「は」.

    To ask when a birthday is, say 「誕生日はいつですか」. Put what you want to ask about before 「は」.

  3. To ask when Dad’s birthday is, say 「お父さんの誕生日はいつですか」. First say whose birthday you mean.

    To ask when Dad’s birthday is, say 「お父さんの誕生日はいつですか」. First say whose birthday you mean.

  4. You do not have to give an exact date. In the conversation, 「来月です」 means the birthday is next month.

    You do not have to give an exact date. In the conversation, 「来月です」 means the birthday is next month.

  5. To find out which day of the month, ask 「何日ですか」. The other person answers 「15日です」.

    To find out which day of the month, ask 「何日ですか」. The other person answers 「15日です」.

  6. When it is already clear you are talking about birthdays, 「田中さんは？」 asks in return when Tanaka’s birthday is.

    When it is already clear you are talking about birthdays, 「田中さんは？」 asks in return when Tanaka’s birthday is.

Example sentences

  • 誕生たんじょうtanjou日びbiはわwaいつitsuですdesuか？かka

    When is your birthday?

  • お父さんおとうさんotousanのno

In a conversation

  • 田中
    山田さんやまださんの誕生たんじょう日びはわいつですか。か

    Tanaka: When is Yamada's birthday?

  • 山田
    来月らいげつです。田中さんですたなかさんは？わ

    Yamada: It's next month. How about you, Tanaka?

Check yourself

  1. Level 1 · Recognise

    Which sentence is correct?

  2. Level 1 · Recognise

    Listen and choose the meaning

  3. Level 2 · Build

    Put the words in order

    When is your birthday?

  4. Level 3 · Use

    What goes in the blank?

    初めまして。山田 。

    Nice to meet you. I'm Yamada.

More grammar in this theme

  • いつasking when

Keep practising

Test your Japanese vocabulary12 adaptive questions, freeCheck your pronunciationRead aloud and get a scorePractise verb forms10-question conjugation quizSee the whole courseGrammar, vocabulary and quizzes by theme
誕生たんじょうtanjou
日びbi
はわwa
いつitsu
ですdesu
か。かka

When is your father's birthday?

田中
私わたしはわ今月こんげつです。です

Tanaka: Mine is this month.

  • 山田
    へえ、へえ何なん日にちですか。か

    Yamada: Oh, what day?

  • 田中
    15じゅうご日にちです。です

    Tanaka: The 15th.

    • 私は〜ですPolite self-introduction
    〜人ですState someone’s nationality
    〜ですか／〜じゃありませんCheck and deny a guessed job
    〜の〜Link nouns and show relationships
    〜歳ですState someone’s age
    〜月〜日month and day
    趣味は〜ですstating a hobby
    〜と〜joining two nouns
    〜も〜ですmatching information: too
    Previous〜月〜日
    Next趣味は〜です