けいさつ「では、あなたの こくせきは どこですか」
おんな「こくせき？」
けいさつ「ごしゅっしんはどちらですか。」
おんな「ご・・しゅつ・・？」
けいさつ「おくにはどちらですか？」
おんな「ああ、くに！ わたしは コスタリカ から きました」
けいさつ「コスタリカ？」
おんな「Pura vida!」
けいさつ「じゃぁ、もちろん、スペイン語ご はなしますか？」
おんな「はい、Si, yo hablo español. (Yes, I speak Spanish.)」
けいさつ「Yo también hablo español. (I also speak Spanish.)」
おんな「Wow!¿En dónde aprendió? (Where did you learn Spanish?)」
けいさつ「Yo aprendí español en Argentina, pero siempre quise ir a Costa Rica a ver quetzal. (I learned Spanish in Argentina, but I always wanted to go to Costa Rica to see quetzals.)」
おんな「Muy lindo, ¿no? (It is nice, isn’t is? )
おにいちゃん、はつおんめっちゃいいな」
けいさつ「ほんとう。ありがとう、うれしい!」
ぶか「せんぱい！ せんぱい！」
Police Officer: “So, where is your nationality?”
Woman: “Nationality?”
Police Officer: “Where were you born?”
Woman: “B…born…?”
Police Officer: “Which country are you from?”
Woman: “Ah, country! I’m from Costa Rica.”
Police Officer: “Costa Rica?”
Woman: “Pura vida! ”
*”Pura vida” is a common phrase in Costa Rica meaning “pure life” or “simple life.
Police Officer: “Well, of course, do you speak Spanish then?”
Woman: “Yes, I speak Spanish.”
Police Officer: “I also speak Spanish.”
Woman: “Wow! Where did you learn Spanish?“
Police Officer: “I learned Spanish in Argentina, but I always wanted to go to Costa Rica to see quetzals.“
Woman: “It is nice, isn’t is? Your pronunciation is really good.”
Police Officer: “Thank you, I’m really happy!”
Passerby: “Excuse me! Senpai, senpai!”
| けいさつ「では、あなたの こくせきは どこですか」 | kei-satsu: dewa, anata no kokuseki wa dokodesu ka |
| おんな「こくせき？」 | on’na: kokuseki? |
| けいさつ「ごしゅっしんはどちらですか。」 | kei-satsu: goshusshin wa dochira desuka |
| 女「ご・・しゅつ・・？」 | on’na: go.. shutsu.. |
| けいさつ「おくにはどちらですか？」 | Kei-satsu: okuni wa dochira desuka? |
| おんな「ああ、くに！ わたしは コスタリカ から きました」 | on’na: ā kuni watashi wa kosutarika kara kimashita |
| けいさつ「コスタリカ？」 | kei-satsu: kosutarika? |
| こくせき (kokuseki) | nationality |
| ごしゅっしん / しゅっしん (goshusshin / shusshin) | birthplace, origin |
| おくに / くに (okuni / kuni ) | country |
| コスタリカ (kosutarika) | Costa Rica |
In Japanese, there are several ways to inquire about someone’s background or origin. Here, some commonly used representative phrases are listed.
こくせきは どこですか Where is your nationality?
- “にほんご” (nihongo): A noun referring to the Japanese language. The officer is asking the suspect if she understands Japanese. In many cases, languages are formed by adding the country name followed by “ご”
(e.g., スペインご =スペイン＋ご, ドイツご =ドイツ ＋ご, かんこくご=かんこく＋ご). - “わかりますか” (wakarimasu ka):
The interrogative form of the verb “わかります” (wakarimasu), meaning “to understand.” The officer is inquiring about the person’s comprehension ability.
ごしゅっしんは どちらですか Where were you born?
- “ちょっとだけ” (Chotto dake): An expression indicating a small amount of action or degree. If someone doesn’t understand Japanese, they would say “にほんご、わかりません nihongo wakarimasen,” and if they understand Japanese, they would say “にほんご、わかります nihongo wakarimasu”
おくには どちらですか Which country are you from?
- “わかりました” (Wakarimashita): An expression indicating understanding. It conveys agreement with the other person’s response.
わたしは コスタリカ から きました I’m from Costa Rica
- The expression “おなまえはなんですか” is used to inquire about the other person’s name. “あなた anata” corresponds to “you” in English, but in modern Japanese, this second-person pronoun can sound a bit impolite. In this context, since the police officer holds a position of authority, please note that he intentionally uses “あなた” for emphasis.
“〜はどこですか” can be translated to English as “Where is ~?” This expression is commonly used to inquire about specific locations or places. Here’s an explanation:
どこ (doko) corresponds to the English “Where,” serving as an interrogative word to refer to the location or place in question.
Example:
“おてあらいはどこですか。 otearai wa doko desuka”
Translation: “Where is the restroom?”
This expression is frequently used to ask about particular places. It helps maintain a polite tone while seeking information about destinations or specific locations.
The expression “〜はどちらですか” is used as a more formal variation of “どこですか,” both of which mean “Where is ~?”
”おてあらいはどちらですか。otearai wa dochira desuka”
Translation: Where is the restroom, please?