Meaning
Asks when an event occurs.
Formation
- いつ usually comes at the start or after the topic: いつ行きますか, 田中さんはいつ日本へ来ましたか
- A plain question about when something happens takes no particle: いつ行きますか. に appears when a date is being chosen (いつにしますか); a deadline is いつまでに
When to use it
- Core use
- Asks when an event occurs
Examples
13 sentences-
いつ日本へ行きますか
When will you go to Japan?
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誕生日はいつですか
When is your birthday?
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いつからこの町に住んでいますか
Since when have you lived in this town?
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いつ図書館へ行きますか
When will you go to the library?
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いつ日本に来ましたか
When did you come to Japan?
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いつ公園へ行きますか
When will you go to the park?
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夏休みはいつまでですか
When do the summer holidays end?
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次のテストはいつですか
When is the next test?
5 more examples
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その本はいつ買いましたか
When did you buy that book?
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田中さんはいつ来ますか
When will Mr. Tanaka come?
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いつ海へ行きますか
When will you go to the sea?
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授業はいつ始まりますか
When do classes start?
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いつ会いましょうか
When shall we meet?
Important notes
- いつ asks about time in general. For a precise answer use 何時に (what time), 何曜日に (what day), 何日 (what date). いつまで asks how long something lasts, いつまでに asks for a deadline.
Common mistakes
- A plain question about when needs no に: いつ行きますか. に appears in set uses such as choosing a date: いつにしますか.
Check yourself
Pick the translation of each sentence. The wrong options translate similar patterns, so watch the grammar rather than the words.
Similar grammar
Hear it in podcasts
The pattern appears in these episodes. They open in the app with the transcript and translation.
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