Japanese grammar · ≈ JLPT N4 · Beginner 3
〜んですか~n desu ka
follow-up explanation question
Use 「〜んですか」 after hearing news or noticing a situation to ask gently for reasons or more details.
How it works
After hearing that someone will start job hunting, ask which industry they are applying to. Notice how the question in the picture follows up on what was said.
Use 「んですか」 to ask for an explanation, whether you want a reason or more details.
After hearing some news or noticing a situation, use it to ask a follow-up question and show you want to know more.
Attach 「んですか」 to a verb in its plain form, as in 「応募するんですか」. Do not use the ます form.
「いつから始めるんですか」 asks when something will start. Here, the speaker wants to know the plans for job hunting.
「どうして～んですか」 asks for a reason, inviting the other person to explain why things are that way.
「もう決まったんですか」 has no question word. Here, it checks whether the study-abroad destination has already been decided.
When asked 「どちらの業界」, name the specific industry. The answer in the picture is the IT industry.
Ask for reasons in a gentle tone. Repeated, forceful questions can make the other person feel interrogated.
Example sentences
- 就職shuushoku活動katsudouはwaいつitsuからkara始めるhajimeruんnですdesuか？ka
When are you starting your job hunt?
In a conversation
- A来月から就職活動を始めます。
A: I'll start my job search next month.
- Bどちらの業界に応募するんです
Check yourself
Level 1 · Recognise
Which sentence is correct?
Level 1 · Recognise
Listen and choose the meaning
Level 2 · Build
Put the words in order
Have you already decided on your study abroad destination?
Level 3 · Use
What goes in the blank?
就職活動はいつから始め 。
When will you start job hunting?
More grammar in this theme
- 〜んですかfollow-up explanation question
