しつもん

§ What does しつもん (shitsumon) mean?

The Japanese word しつもん (shitsumon) is a noun that means 'question'. It's a straightforward term, and you'll hear it often in daily conversations, classrooms, and business settings. Think of it as the direct equivalent of 'question' in English. When you want to ask something, or refer to an inquiry someone else made, しつもん is the word you'll use.

§ How to use しつもん (shitsumon) in sentences

Using しつもん is quite simple. It often appears with the verb する (suru), which means 'to do', forming the phrase しつもんする (shitsumon suru), meaning 'to ask a question'. You can also use it with verbs like ある (aru - to exist/have) or ある (aru - to have) to indicate 'there is a question' or 'I have a question'.

Definition

A sentence worded to obtain information.

Here are some common ways to use しつもん:

• To ask a question: しつもんがありますか？ (Shitsumon ga arimasu ka?) - Do you have a question?
• To refer to a question someone asked: 彼のしつもんは難しかった。(Kare no shitsumon wa muzukashikatta.) - His question was difficult.
• To make a request for questions: しつもんをお願いします。(Shitsumon o onegai shimasu.) - Please ask questions. (Lit: I request questions.)

§ Examples of しつもん (shitsumon) in context

Let's look at some practical examples to see how しつもん fits into real conversations.

Teacher, I have a question.

Do you have any questions?

It's difficult to answer that question.

This is the last question.

His questions were very precise/on point.

§ When do people use しつもん (shitsumon)?

You'll find しつもん used in a wide range of situations. Here are some common scenarios:

• In a classroom: Teachers will often ask 「しつもんがありますか？」 to see if students have understood the lesson. Students will raise their hand and say 「しつもんがあります！」 to ask something.
• During a presentation: At the end of a presentation, the speaker might invite the audience to ask questions by saying 「しつもんはありますか？」 or 「ごしつもんどうぞ。」 (Go-shitsumon douzo - Please ask your questions, using polite prefix ご (go-)).
• In a business meeting: If you need clarification on a project or proposal, you can say 「しつもんさせてください。」 (Shitsumon sasete kudasai.) - Please let me ask a question.
• Asking for directions: If you're lost, you might approach someone and say 「すみません、しつもんがあります。」 (Sumimasen, shitsumon ga arimasu.) - Excuse me, I have a question.

It's a versatile word that applies whenever information is being sought. It's direct and unambiguous. Mastering its use will greatly help you in various communication situations in Japanese.

§ Basic Meaning of しつもん

Japanese Word

しつもん (shitsumon)

Type

Noun

CEFR Level

A2

Definition

A sentence worded to obtain information; a question.

§ How to Use しつもん in a Sentence

The word しつもん (shitsumon) is a noun meaning 'question'. You can use it in several ways, often with the verb する (suru) to form a compound verb, or with various particles to indicate its role in a sentence.

§ しつもんする (shitsumon suru) - To ask a question

The most common way to use しつもん is by combining it with the verb する (suru), meaning 'to do'. This creates the verb しつもんする (shitsumon suru), which means 'to ask a question'.

Hint

I asked the teacher a question.

Hint

Do you have any questions?

When you use しつもんする, the person you are asking the question to is marked with the particle に (ni).

§ しつもんがある (shitsumon ga aru) - There is a question

To express that you 'have a question' or 'there is a question', you can use しつもん with the particle が (ga) and the verb ある (aru), which means 'to exist' or 'there is/are'.

Hint

I have a question. (Literally: As for me, there is a question.)

§ しつもんにこたえる (shitsumon ni kotaeru) - To answer a question

When you 'answer a question', しつもん takes the particle に (ni), indicating the thing you are responding to. The verb is こたえる (kotaeru), meaning 'to answer'.

Hint

I answered his question.

§ しつもんをする (shitsumon o suru) - To make a question

While しつもんする is more common, you can also use しつもんを する (shitsumon o suru). Here, the particle を (o) marks しつもん as the direct object of the verb する. Both mean 'to ask a question', but しつもんする feels slightly more natural in everyday conversation.

Hint

I asked the teacher many questions.

§ Other common phrases with しつもん

• しつもんタイム (shitsumon taimu): Question time. This is often used in presentations or classes.
• しつもんコーナー (shitsumon kōnā): Question corner. Similar to question time, but might refer to a section in a magazine or website.

Hint

There will be a question time at the end of the class.

§ しつもん: What it means

Let's learn about the Japanese word しつもん (shitsumon). It's a common and useful word, so you'll hear it often. It means 'question' – a sentence you use to get information.

Japanese Word

しつもん (shitsumon)

Part of Speech

Noun

CEFR Level

A2

Definition

A sentence worded to obtain information.

§ Where you hear しつもん

You'll hear しつもん in many everyday situations in Japan. Here are some common places and contexts:

• At School or University: Students ask teachers questions, and teachers might ask students if they have any questions.
• At Work: During meetings, presentations, or training sessions, people ask questions for clarification or more information.
• In a Q&A Session: After a lecture or a presentation, there's often a 'question and answer' (Q&A) time, which in Japanese is usually called 質疑応答 (shitsugi ōtō), but しつもん is the core of it.
• In Daily Conversations: When you're trying to understand something or get more details, you'll naturally form a しつもん.
• In News or Interviews: Journalists ask questions to interviewees to get information for their stories.

Let's look at some examples to see how it's used in real sentences.

§ しつもん in different situations

Here are some practical examples of しつもん being used. Pay attention to the particles that often go with it, like が (ga) or の (no).

§ At School

Translation Hint

Teacher, I have a question.

Translation Hint

Do you have any questions?

§ At Work

Translation Hint

Regarding that matter, please allow me to ask a few questions.

Translation Hint

Please send your questions by email.

§ In General Conversation

Translation Hint

Um, may I ask a quick question?

§ Related words and phrases

While しつもん is very common, it's good to know other words that are similar or related:

• 聞く (kiku): This is the verb 'to ask'. So you can say 「質問を聞く」 (shitsumon o kiku) - 'to ask a question'.
• 問い (toi): A more formal or literary word for 'question' or 'query'. You might see this in written exams or academic texts more than in daily conversation.
• 疑問 (gimon): This means 'doubt' or 'question', but it often implies a point of uncertainty or something you're unclear about. For example, 「疑問があります」 (gimon ga arimasu) means 'I have a doubt/question' in the sense of something you don't understand.

Keep practicing using しつもん in different contexts. The more you use it, the more natural it will become! If you have any questions about this lesson, feel free to ask!

§ Using しつもん with the wrong verbs

Many learners get confused about which verbs to use with しつもん (shitsumon). In English, we simply "ask a question." In Japanese, it's a bit more nuanced. You don't directly "ask" しつもん in the same way. Instead, you typically "do" a question or "make" a question.

DEFINITION

The most common verb to use with しつもん is する (suru), meaning "to do." So, you "do a question" or "make a question."

Hint: I will ask the teacher a question. (Literally: I will do a question to the teacher.)

Hint: Do you have any questions? (Literally: Is there any question?)

§ Confusing しつもん with たずねる (tazuneru)

Another common mistake is to confuse しつもん (shitsumon) with the verb たずねる (tazuneru). Both relate to asking, but they are used differently.

DEFINITION

たずねる (tazuneru) is a verb that means "to ask" or "to inquire." It directly conveys the action of asking, whereas しつもん is the noun, the question itself.

So, you can't say 「しつもんをたずねる」 (shitsumon o tazuneru) directly, as that would be like saying "to ask a question a question." It's redundant and incorrect.

Hint: I asked him the way.

Here, 道 (michi - way/road) is the direct object of たずねる. You are asking *for* the way, not asking a question.

§ Overusing しつもん in casual conversation

While しつもん is a perfectly valid word for "question," in very casual Japanese conversation, it can sometimes sound a bit formal or direct if you use it for every single query. Japanese people often use more indirect or simpler phrasing when asking things informally.

DEFINITION

In informal settings, simply stating what you want to know or using a question particle like 「か」 (ka) is often enough without explicitly saying しつもん.

Instead of:

Hint: I have a small question.

You might hear or use something like:

• これ、何？ (Kore, nani?)

  Hint: What's this?

• ちょっと聞いてもいい？ (Chotto kiite mo ii?)

  Hint: Can I ask something? (More literally: Is it okay if I hear/ask a little?)

These are more natural in very casual contexts. しつもん is perfectly fine in a classroom, business, or formal setting, but be mindful of the context in casual chats.

Hello learners! Today we're diving into the word しつもん (shitsumon), which means 'question'. It's an A2 CEFR level word, so you'll hear it a lot.

§ しつもん: Basic Meaning

DEFINITION

A sentence worded to obtain information.

Basically, it's what you ask when you want to know something. Pretty straightforward, right?

§ Common Uses of しつもん

You can use しつもん in a few ways. The most common is to say you have a question or to ask a question.

Translation hint: "I have a question." (This is a very common phrase to learn!)

Translation hint: "I asked the teacher a question."

§ Similar Words and When to Use しつもん

Japanese has a few ways to talk about asking things, but しつもん is your go-to for general questions. Let's look at some alternatives.

• 問い (toi): This is a more formal or academic word for 'question' or 'inquiry'. You'll see it in written contexts, like in exams or philosophical discussions, more often than in everyday conversation. It's not usually something you'd use to ask your friend what they want for dinner.
• 尋ねる (tazuneru): This is a verb meaning 'to ask' or 'to inquire'. While しつもん is a noun, 尋ねる is the action itself. You can use it like this:

Translation hint: "I asked for directions."

• 聞く (kiku): This verb can mean both 'to listen' and 'to ask'. When used to mean 'to ask', it's usually for simpler, more direct requests for information, or when you're just trying to hear something. It's a very versatile verb.

Translation hint: "I asked their name."

§ Why しつもん is your best bet

For most learners at the A2 level, and even beyond, しつもん is the safest and most commonly used word for 'question'. It's polite, clear, and applies to a wide range of situations, from asking your teacher a grammar question to asking a shop assistant about a product.

When in doubt, use しつもん. You'll be understood, and you'll sound natural. The other words have their place, but しつもん is the workhorse of 'question' vocabulary.

Keep practicing, and don't be afraid to ask しつもん!