How to Say “What Is This?” in Japanese: Common Expressions and Examples

Key takeaways

• これは何ですか (kore wa nan desu ka) is the standard way to ask “what is this?” in Japanese.
• これ (kore) refers to objects physically close to the speaker; it is one of three Japanese demonstratives.
• The casual form is これ何? (kore nani?) used with friends and family.
• When someone explains what the object is, they typically begin with それは (sore wa: “that is”) in their reply.
• Knowing これは何ですか is a practical first phrase for real-life situations: shopping, cooking, exploring new places.

You are in a Japanese kitchen, a market, or a museum, and you see something you do not recognize. これは何ですか (kore wa nan desu ka) is the sentence that gets you the answer. It is a short, clean question that works in almost every situation where you need to identify something nearby.

With 30,000+ expert tutors across 150+ languages, italki connects you with the best Japanese tutors who practice naming everyday objects with you in real conversation. Browse Japanese tutors on italki and book a trial lesson today.

これは何ですか: the core phrase

Japanese	Romaji	English
これは何ですか	kore wa nan desu ka	What is this?

Breaking it down: これ (kore) = this (near the speaker); は (wa) = topic marker; 何 (nan) = what (read as “nan” before desu); ですか (desu ka) = polite question ending. The structure is identical to the questions covered in the guide to asking what is that in Japanese, which covers the full demonstrative system with あれ (are) and それ (sore).

The three demonstratives

Japanese	Romaji	English	Distance
これ	kore	This	Near the speaker
それ	sore	That	Near the listener
あれ	are	That (over there)	Far from both

Start your online Japanese lessons and practice switching between demonstratives by using real objects in the room.

Answering これは何ですか

Japanese	Romaji	English
それは抹茶です	sore wa matcha desu	That is matcha
それは箸です	sore wa hashi desu	That is chopsticks
それはわさびです	sore wa wasabi desu	That is wasabi
それはたこ焼きです	sore wa takoyaki desu	That is takoyaki
それは大根です	sore wa daikon desu	That is daikon (white radish)

Work through these exchanges with a Japanese instructor and learn to recognize the response patterns.

Follow-up questions

Japanese	Romaji	English
どうやって食べますか	dou yatte tabemasu ka	How do you eat it?
どんな味ですか	donna aji desu ka	What does it taste like?
どこで買えますか	doko de kaemasu ka	Where can I buy it?
いくらですか	ikura desu ka	How much is it?
辛いですか	karai desu ka	Is it spicy?

Asking what something is called in Japanese specifically

Japanese	Romaji	English
これは日本語で何と言いますか	kore wa nihongo de nanto iimasu ka	What do you call this in Japanese?
これの日本語は何ですか	kore no nihongo wa nan desu ka	What is the Japanese word for this?
日本語で何と書きますか	nihongo de nanto kakimasu ka	How do you write it in Japanese?

Casual forms for everyday conversation

Japanese	Romaji	English
これ何?	kore nani?	What’s this?
これ何て言うの?	kore nante iu no?	What do you call this?
これ食べられる?	kore taberareru?	Can you eat this?

Practice these casual forms with a Japanese private tutor to sound natural with close friends.

Practical vocabulary for asking about objects

Japanese	Romaji	English
食べ物	tabemono	Food
飲み物	nomimono	Drink
道具	dougu	Tool / instrument
調味料	choumiryou	Seasoning / condiment
野菜	yasai	Vegetable
果物	kudamono	Fruit

In a shop or market setting

Japanese	Romaji	English
これを一つください	kore wo hitotsu kudasai	One of these, please
試食できますか	shishoku dekimasu ka	Can I try a sample?
いくらですか	ikura desu ka	How much is it?
レシートをください	reshiito wo kudasai	A receipt, please

Once you start asking about quantities, you’ll realize Japanese numbers are as essential as the question itself. Practice them with a native speaker so you process prices, times, and amounts in real conversation. Using これは何ですか in a classroom or study context

Japanese	Romaji	English
これはどういう意味ですか	kore wa dou iu imi desu ka	What does this mean?
これはどう読みますか	kore wa dou yomimasu ka	How do you read this?
これはどう使いますか	kore wa dou tsukaimasu ka	How do you use this?

Getting comfortable with これは何ですか takes very little time with the right practice partner. Learn faster with personal guidance from italki’s 30,000+ tutors trustedby over 10 million learners worldwide.Book a trial lesson today and spend part of it with your teacher showing you objects and asking これは何ですか.

FAQ

Is これは何ですか rude to use in a restaurant?

No. Pointing at a dish on the menu and saying これは何ですか is a normal way to find out what it is before ordering. What is the difference between これは何ですか and これは何のものですか? これは何のものですか adds の (no) and もの (mono: thing), making it “what kind of thing is this?” The first form covers nearly all situations. Why is 何 read as “nan” and not “nani” in these questions? Before です (desu) and forms starting with “d” or “n” sounds, the reading changes to “nan.” In これは何ですか, 何 comes directly before です, so it is read “nan.”