Using んですか

Using んですか
Learning the Japanese grammar pattern んですか
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んですか: is that so? really? then?

☘ Meaning: it has 3 main senses:

– Asking to confirm what you have heard or seen

– Asking for more information about what you have heard or seen

– Asking for an explanation of what you have heard or seen

– Extended meaning: is that right? really? oh?

☘ Structure:

– V [plain form] + んですか

– N [なん] + んですか

– なA [なん] + んですか

– いA [plain form] + んですか

☘ Examples:

• Sense 1: is it? oh? [Confirming] [Seeing your older brother come in wet, holding an umbrella] 雨が降っているんですか -> Is it raining?

[Seeing your older brother coughing and looking worn out] 気分が悪いんですか -> Aren't you well?

• Sense 2: so, then [Asking for more information] [Seeing your older sister with a nice bag] いいかばんですね。どこで買ったんですか -> Nice bag. Where did you buy it?

[Hearing someone tell a story that sounds unlikely and wanting to know who they heard it from] だれにその話を聞いたんですか -> Who did you hear that from?

• Sense 3: so, then, really [Wanting an explanation] [Hearing that your older brother has suddenly left his job] どうして会社を辞めるんですか -> Why are you leaving your job?

[He is always on time, yet today you hear he didn't make the meeting] どうして会議に間に合わなかったんですか -> Why didn't you make the meeting?

☘ Vocabulary:

* 雨 (あめ): rain

* 降る (ふる): to fall

* 作る (つくる): to make

* 気分 (きぶん): how you feel, health

* 悪い (わるい): bad, unwell

* 買う (かう): mua

* 話 (はなし): a story

* 聞く (きく): nghe

* 会社 (かいしゃ): a company

* 辞める (やめる): to quit a job

* 会議 (かいぎ): a meeting

* ~に間に合う (にまにあう): to be in time for