why

Doushite and naze both ask why; doushite is more conversational and naze slightly more formal or written. Answers typically end in kara (because). The question word goes where an ordinary adverb would.

Examples

• どうして昨日きのう来きませんでしたか。

  Doushite kinou kimasen deshita ka.

  Why didn't you come yesterday?

• なぜ日本語にほんごを勉強べんきょうしていますか。

  Naze nihongo o benkyou shite imasu ka.

  Why are you studying Japanese?

Vocabulary in these examples

• どう how
• する to do
• 昨日 yesterday
• 来る to come
• なぜ why
• 日本語 Japanese language

Related patterns · Question words

• 何（なん / なに） what
• だれ / どなた who
• どこ where
• いつ when
• いくら how much (price)
• どう / いかが how; how about