Welcome to Day 50 of your 100-day challenge to reach JLPT N5 level. You’re halfway there—great job!
Today’s grammar points, なぜ (naze) and どうして (doushite), are simple but powerful. Asking “why” helps you connect with others, understand reasons, and express curiosity—essential for real communication in Japanese.
By mastering these two words, you’ll begin having natural conversations instead of just textbook ones. Let’s explore how to ask “why” naturally in Japanese.
Main Lesson: Understanding なぜ and どうして
Meaning
Both なぜ and どうして mean “why,” but they differ in tone and usage.
| Word | Meaning | Tone / Use | Pronunciation | Common in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| なぜ | why | Formal, logical, used in writing or polite speech | na-ze | news, essays, polite speech |
| どうして | why | Casual, emotional, used in daily conversation | do-u-shi-te | talking with friends, family, coworkers |
Grammar Structure
Pattern:
なぜ / どうして + [sentence or question]
Example:
きのう は、どうして がっこう に いきません でした か。
Why didn’t you go to school yesterday?
Both are usually placed at the beginning of the sentence, just like “why” in English. However, it is also natural for time expressions (like きのう, きょう) or personal pronouns and names (like あなた, かれ) to come before なぜ or どうして without sounding strange.
Key Notes
- どうして is more common in daily life.
- なぜ sounds more formal or logical, used in writing or polite situations.
- Never use them together (for example, “なぜどうして〜” is incorrect). Choose one depending on tone.
Vocabulary List
| Japanese | Romaji | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| おそい | osoi | late, slow |
| じしょ | jisho | dictionary |
| しごと | shigoto | work, job |
| まち | machi | town, city |
| あめ | ame | rain |
| びっくりする | bikkurisuru | to be surprised |
| まがる | magaru | to turn (a corner) |
| つかれる | tsukareru | to get tired |
| わかる | wakaru | to understand |
| おもう | omou | to think |
Example Sentences
Each sentence below shows a real everyday situation where Japanese people naturally use なぜ or どうして.
なぜ この しごと が すき です か？
Naze kono shigoto ga suki desu ka?
Why do you like this job?
どうして あめ の ひ に でかけました か？
Doushite ame no hi ni dekakemashita ka?
Why did you go out on a rainy day?
なぜ この まち に すんで います か？
Naze kono machi ni sunde imasu ka?
Why do you live in this town?
なぜ おこって います か？
Naze okotte imasu ka?
Why are you angry?
なぜ です か。 / どうして です か。
Naze desu ka? / Doushite desu ka?
Why is that? or Why?
Context: These short questions are very common in conversation when reacting to what someone just said.
For example, if a friend says, 「あした は しごと に いきません。」(I’m not going to work tomorrow), you can reply, 「どうして です か。」to politely ask for the reason.
Summary: Key Takeaways
- なぜ is for everyday, emotional, or casual situations.
- どうして is for formal or logical explanations.
- Both mean “why” and usually appear at the start of the sentence.
Conclusion
Reaching JLPT N5 isn’t about rushing—it’s about consistency. By studying a little each day, you’re building confidence to speak naturally.
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