is a question word meaning **"why"**. It is used to ask for the reason or cause of something. It is more formal than
and significantly more formal than
, making it suitable for written language, formal speech, and polite conversations.
Basic usage
typically appears at the beginning of a sentence or before the verb phrase, and the sentence usually ends with a question marker such as
or
.
。
Why are you studying Japanese?
Japanese has three common words for "why," differing mainly in formality:
- – formal; used in writing, speeches, and polite conversation
- – neutral; used in everyday polite conversation
- – casual; used among friends and family
Rhetorical questions
is also common in rhetorical questions, where the speaker is not truly expecting an answer but expressing frustration, wonder, or emphasis.
だろう。
Why did something like this happen, I wonder.
Without a question
can appear in embedded (indirect) questions within statements, not just in direct questions.
。
I don't understand why he is angry.
Lingaku