Konnichiwa! I just started learning again today after putting it off for a long time. I'm in Unit 1.1 and have a question: What is the difference between "wa" and "ka" when denoting a question? Arrigato! - Otis

Konnichiwa Otis-san, Great to have you with us again. The particle 'wa' can be used as the end-particle denoting a question only in colloquial speech, and with a rising intonation. It is similar to English where you raise the tone at the end of words like "And this?" (Kore wa?) or "And you?" (Anata wa?) to ask questions. The question particle 'ka' on the other hand is the 'official' question particle - meaning that whenever there is a 'ka' at the end of a sentence, you can assume it is a question. For example, the question "And this?" which in colloquial Japanese speech can be asked only by saying "Kore wa?" - but in a more formal manner, we use "Kore wa do desu ka?" - Hope that helps! Sayaka ;)

what is the diffrence between NI and DE?

Hi Glinda. DE: 1)Location of an action, eg. tosho-kan de hon o yonde imasu>(I'm) reading a book in the library. 2)Manner or means, eg. Fune de ikimashou ka?>Shall we go by boat? 3)Materials used, eg. Kono Keiki wa, satou to tamago to gyuuniyuu de tsukurimasu> this cake is made of sugar, egg and milk. 4)Indicates superlatives within something>Sekai de ichiban shiawase ni suru kara, kekkon shiyou!> I'll make you the happiest in the world so let's marry!(thats taken directly from the course.....sorry) 5)Indicates condition> eg. Hitori dake de sunde imasu (I live just by myself) Those are the main uses NI: 1)Indicates a location and times, eg. Ginkou no mae ni imasu.> I'm in front of the bank 2)Indicates location of an action(ni indicates long-term action, de indicates short term action) eg. Resutoran ni tsutomete imasu> I'm working in a restaurant. 3)Indicates intervals, eg. Issshukan ni ichido tenisu o shimasu (I play tennis once a week) 4)Indicates movement, eg. Tokyo eki no mae de basu ni notte kudasai (Pease board the bus in front Tokyo station) 5)To go and do something---stem+ni+masu-base of verb, eg. Shokuji o tabe ni ikimasu ka? (Shall we go and eat lunch) Using these concepts, you can understand other uses of ni, for example in change eg. Taro-san isha ni natta> Taro became a doctor, even here, the concept of movement applies. Hope that helped.

i want to know how i can write it down in japaness. where what who whose why im living England im from thank you so much

Marcy-san where=doko what=nani who=dare whose=dare no why=naze, douchte im living in=(place name) ni sunde imasu im from england=Igirisu kara kimashita hope this is okey

@Marcy, what=nani/nan why=nande/naze/doushite Good job otherwise though :)

Hi! Here it is in Japanese characters: where　どこ　何処 what　なに　何 who　だれ　誰 whose　だれの　誰の why 　なんで　何で　・　なぜ　何故 im living 　すんでいる・すんでいます　住んでいる・住んでいます England　イギリス im from 　わたしは＿＿＿からです。