Whether you are traveling to Japan or living in Japan, having a basic understanding of the language is invaluable. The ability to communicate with locals not only enriches your travel experience but also helps you navigate through the country with ease.
In this post, we will focus on one essential phrase that everyone traveling to or living in Japan should know: “Do you have” in Japanese. This simple question can be incredibly useful when looking for something specific, such as an item in a store, a type of food in a restaurant, or a service at a hotel.
In conclusion, you can use the following sentence pattern for asking “do you have” in Japanese.
N（は）、ありますか。
N（wa）, arimasu ka.
N is the noun you want to ask if they have.
Please read on for more detail.
Expressing “Do You Have” in Japanese
In Japanese, the phrase “Do you have” is typically expressed as follows.
N（は）、ありますか。
N（wa）, arimasu ka.
This phrase is used to ask if something exists or is available. “あります（arimasu）” means “to exist” or “to have.” The particle “か（ka）” turns the sentence into a question.
For example, if you want to ask “Do you have mayonnaise?” at a restaurant, you can say:
マヨネーズ（は）、ありますか?
Mayoneezu（wa）, arimasu ka?
Do you have mayonnaise?
Or if you want to ask “Do you have Wi-Fi?” you can ask like this:
Wi-Fi（は）、ありますか?
Waifai（wa）, arimasu ka?
Do you have Wi-Fi?
You can omit the particle “は（wa）” .
Pronunciation Tips for Expressing “Do You Have” in Japanese
There are two tips to pronouncing the phrase “do you have”. First, pronounce the noun you want to ask if they have（and the particle “は” if you use it）, then pause for a moment. Second, when pronouncing “ありますか?（arimasu ka?）”, only “か（ka）” intonation is raised.
Please listen to audio recordings.
マヨネーズ、ありますか?（Mayoneezu, arimasu ka?）
マヨネーズは、ありますか?（Mayoneezu wa, arimasu ka?）
Wi-Fi、ありますか?（Waifai, arimasu ka?）
Wi-Fiは、ありますか?（Waifai wa, arimasu ka?）
Resources for Learning in What Situations “Do You Have” in Japanese is Used
If you’re looking for more resources to help you understand in what situations “do you have” in Japanese is used, here are some great resources.
Audio Files and Videos
First, audio files and videos.
When You Order at an an Izakaya, a Japanese Drinking Place
Please visit this page and then play the following audio file.
- X_[06-15]_kaiwa.mp3
In this conversation, they are ordering at an Izakaya, a Japanese drinking place, and also ask if they have mayonnaise.
You can also watch the following video to better understand the situation.
When Shown around a New Home
Please visit this page and then play the following audio file.
- X_[07-07]_kiku1.mp3
- X_[07-08]_kiku2.mp3
In these conversations, they are asking whether the house has everything they need when shown around their company dormitory.
When You Ask Someone to Lend You Something at work
Please visit this page and then play the following audio file.
- X_[10-23]_kiku1.mp3
- X_[10-24]_kiku2.mp3
- X_[10-25]_kiku3.mp3
- X_[10-26]_kiku4.mp3
In these conversations, they ask their colleague to lend them something at work.
When You Ask Where the Toilets, an ATM, etc. Are
Please visit this page and then play the following audio file.
- X_[14-01]_kiku1.mp3
- X_[14-02]_kiku2.mp3
- X_[14-03]_kiku3.mp3
- X_[14-04]_kiku4.mp3
- X_[14-05]_kiku5.mp3
- X_[14-05]_kiku6.mp3
In these conversations, they ask where the toilets, an ATM, etc. are.
Related Posts
You can also read the following posts for more detail on the sentence pattern “N（は）、ありますか。”
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use the particle “が（ga）” instead of “は（wa）” to say “Nがありますか（N ga arimasu ka）”
Yes, you can. But usually if you want to ask “do you have” , “N、ありますか（N, arimasu ka）” or “Nはありますか（N ga arimasu ka）” are usually used.
How can I say “Do you have a car” in Japanese?
You can say “車、ありますか?（Kuruma, arimasu ka?）” or “車はありますか?（Kuruma wa arimasu ka?）”.
Conclusion
In this post, I have shared how to ask “Do you have” in Japanese.
In conclusion, you can use the following sentence pattern for asking “do you have” in Japanese.
N（は）、ありますか。
N（wa）, arimasu ka.
I hope this post will help you to improve your Japanese language skills!
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