ですか

Is it ~ ? / Are you ~ ? / Question marker (polite)

Used to turn a polite statement into a polite question.

N5

Meaning

Is it ~ ? / Are you ~ ? / Question marker (polite)

Used to turn a polite statement into a polite question.

Formation

Noun + ですか
な-adjective + ですか
い-adjective + ですか
Question word + ですか

Explanation

「ですか」 is the polite question form of 「です」.

Key nuance:

  • Used to ask for information politely

  • Common in everyday conversation

  • Neutral and respectful

  • Frequently appears in beginner-level Japanese

The particle 「か」 marks the sentence as a question.

Compare:

あなたは学生です。
You are a student.

あなたは学生ですか。
Are you a student?

The meaning changes from a statement to a question.