How to Ask “Is it …?” in Japanese: Using “Wa … Desu ka”

Want to ask simple questions in Japanese like “Is this a book?” or “Are you a teacher?”
This lesson teaches you how to use the Japanese question form “〜は…ですか？” in a polite and natural way.
It’s one of the most important patterns to master early—perfect for beginners learning Japanese in just 10 minutes a day.

What Does “Wa … Desu ka” Mean in Japanese?

The question form of “〜は…です” is very simple.
Just add “か” to the end of the sentence:

A は B です → A は B ですか？
“As for A, is it B?”

There’s no need to change word order. Just add “か” at the end to make it a polite yes-no question.

How to Form Yes/No Questions in Japanese

Understanding Sentence-Ending “Ka” (か)

• A は(A wa) = Topic (what the sentence is about)
• B = What you say about A
• です (desu) = Polite ending (like “is” in English)
• か(ka) = Question

“～wa…desu ka?” works for:

• Asking about people
• Confirming objects
• Being polite in conversation

Examples of ‘wa … desu ka?’ in Sentences

Are you a teacher?

あなたは先生ですか？
あなたはせんせいですか？
Anata wa sensei desu ka?
As for you, are you a teacher?

Is that a school?

あれは学校ですか？
あれはがっこうですか？
Are wa gakkou desu ka?
As for that, is it a school?

Is this a book?

これは本ですか？
これはほんですか？
Kore wa hon desu ka?
As for this, is it a book?

Is John a student?

ジョンさんは学生ですか？
じょんさんはがくせいですか？
Jon-san wa gakusei desu ka?
As for Mr. John, is he a student?

Scene：At a restaurant

💬You point at a dish and ask:

これは天ぷらですか？

これはてんぷらですか？
Kore wa tenpura desu ka?
As for this, is it tempura?

This is a typical way to politely confirm information using “Wa + Desu ka”.

Vocabulary from This Lesson

Here are the key Japanese words used in this lesson:

• あなた：あなた (anata)：you
• 先生：せんせい (sensei)：teacher
• 学校：がっこう (gakkou)：school
• 学生：がくせい (gakusei)：student
• 本：ほん (hon)：book
• か：か (ka)：question marker (used to make polite questions)

Why Learn “〜は…ですか？” for Asking Questions in Japanese?

The “~wa … desu ka?” pattern is the easiest and most polite way to ask questions in Japanese.
You can use it in everyday conversation, at work, or while traveling in Japan.
It’s also grammatically consistent—just add “か” to turn any “〜は…です” statement into a question.