Lesson 2 Are wa nan desu ka

John: ゆかさん。はい、どうぞ。Yuka. This is for you.

Yuka san. Hai douzo.

Yuka: わあ。ありがとうございます。これは、何ですか。Wow. Thank you very much. What is this?

Waa. Arigatou gozaimasu. Kore wa nan desuka?

John: それは、アメリカのおみやげです。It is a souvenir from America.

Sore wa Amerika no omiyage desu.

Yuka: いつもありがとうございます。Thank you so much as always.

Itsumo arigatou gozaimasu.

John: どういたしまして。You’re welcome.

Douitashimashite

Grammar:

How to ask a question.

Kore wa nan desu ka?

This means “What is this?”

Kore=this, nan=what, desu=formal expression, ka=a particle. when added to the end of a sentence with a rising intonation, it allows you to ask a question.

e.g.) Sore wa nan desuka. (What is it?)

Noun A no Noun B

*No is a particle that links two nouns. In Japanese, you put a modifying word before an noun.

e.g.) Amerika no omiyage (a souvenir from America)