どこ and なに in subject questionsUse of ~のか (~んですか) in questions not seeking a yes/no...

Should I take out a loan for a friend to invest on my behalf?

What do you call the air that rushes into your car in the highway?

What are some noteworthy "mic-drop" moments in math?

How much stiffer are 23c tires over 28c?

What to do when during a meeting client people start to fight (even physically) with each others?

BitNot does not flip bits in the way I expected

How do you like my writing?

Why would one plane in this picture not have gear down yet?

Is it true that real estate prices mainly go up?

Is Gradient Descent central to every optimizer?

Should I tell my boss the work he did was worthless

Can you reject a postdoc offer after the PI has paid a large sum for flights/accommodation for your visit?

How does airport security verify that you can carry a battery bank over 100 Wh?

In the late 1940’s to early 1950’s what technology was available that could melt a LOT of ice?

Why does Deadpool say "You're welcome, Canada," after shooting Ryan Reynolds in the end credits?

Can't find the Shader/UVs tab

Finding algorithms of QGIS commands?

How are such low op-amp input currents possible?

Could a cubesat propel itself to Mars?

Why don't MCU characters ever seem to have language issues?

How did Alan Turing break the enigma code using the hint given by the lady in the bar?

Aliens englobed the Solar System: will we notice?

Offered promotion but I'm leaving. Should I tell?

Who deserves to be first and second author? PhD student who collected data, research associate who wrote the paper or supervisor?



どこ and なに in subject questions


Use of ~のか (~んですか) in questions not seeking a yes/no answerQuestions with 辞書形 and raising tone and 辞書形+の?How do you say “question”, and which counter should be used?Asking a question with “da” and “datta”Meaning of かな for asking questionsIndirect questions nested inside phrasesUsing verb + “n desu”, “n da” in questions and in statements and with no confirmationNegative questions + のHow do the Japanese ask questions about language?What is the difference between 「もらいませんか」 and 「もらいましょうか」?













4
















はい、こちらサービスセンターです。



すみません。コンピューターが壊れてしまったんです。



どこが壊れたんですか。



わかりません。




As far as I understand, the manager is asking what exactly has broken (which part of the computer is broken?). If we said 何が壊れたんですか in this situation, would the answer be the computer?



When shall we use どこ and 何 in subject questions?










share|improve this question























  • Do you have a source for this hypothetical dialogue? It seems a little unnatural.

    – BJCUAI
    3 hours ago













  • @BJCUAI Genki II. Workbook. Lesson 18. Listening Comprehension.

    – Enguroo
    3 hours ago











  • @BJCUAI what makes it a little unnatural?

    – Enguroo
    3 hours ago











  • As Sazarando has indicated as well, asking a customer first thing which part of the computer is broken would be an unusual question.

    – BJCUAI
    3 hours ago


















4
















はい、こちらサービスセンターです。



すみません。コンピューターが壊れてしまったんです。



どこが壊れたんですか。



わかりません。




As far as I understand, the manager is asking what exactly has broken (which part of the computer is broken?). If we said 何が壊れたんですか in this situation, would the answer be the computer?



When shall we use どこ and 何 in subject questions?










share|improve this question























  • Do you have a source for this hypothetical dialogue? It seems a little unnatural.

    – BJCUAI
    3 hours ago













  • @BJCUAI Genki II. Workbook. Lesson 18. Listening Comprehension.

    – Enguroo
    3 hours ago











  • @BJCUAI what makes it a little unnatural?

    – Enguroo
    3 hours ago











  • As Sazarando has indicated as well, asking a customer first thing which part of the computer is broken would be an unusual question.

    – BJCUAI
    3 hours ago
















4












4








4









はい、こちらサービスセンターです。



すみません。コンピューターが壊れてしまったんです。



どこが壊れたんですか。



わかりません。




As far as I understand, the manager is asking what exactly has broken (which part of the computer is broken?). If we said 何が壊れたんですか in this situation, would the answer be the computer?



When shall we use どこ and 何 in subject questions?










share|improve this question















はい、こちらサービスセンターです。



すみません。コンピューターが壊れてしまったんです。



どこが壊れたんですか。



わかりません。




As far as I understand, the manager is asking what exactly has broken (which part of the computer is broken?). If we said 何が壊れたんですか in this situation, would the answer be the computer?



When shall we use どこ and 何 in subject questions?







questions






share|improve this question













share|improve this question











share|improve this question




share|improve this question










asked 3 hours ago









EngurooEnguroo

65210




65210













  • Do you have a source for this hypothetical dialogue? It seems a little unnatural.

    – BJCUAI
    3 hours ago













  • @BJCUAI Genki II. Workbook. Lesson 18. Listening Comprehension.

    – Enguroo
    3 hours ago











  • @BJCUAI what makes it a little unnatural?

    – Enguroo
    3 hours ago











  • As Sazarando has indicated as well, asking a customer first thing which part of the computer is broken would be an unusual question.

    – BJCUAI
    3 hours ago





















  • Do you have a source for this hypothetical dialogue? It seems a little unnatural.

    – BJCUAI
    3 hours ago













  • @BJCUAI Genki II. Workbook. Lesson 18. Listening Comprehension.

    – Enguroo
    3 hours ago











  • @BJCUAI what makes it a little unnatural?

    – Enguroo
    3 hours ago











  • As Sazarando has indicated as well, asking a customer first thing which part of the computer is broken would be an unusual question.

    – BJCUAI
    3 hours ago



















Do you have a source for this hypothetical dialogue? It seems a little unnatural.

– BJCUAI
3 hours ago







Do you have a source for this hypothetical dialogue? It seems a little unnatural.

– BJCUAI
3 hours ago















@BJCUAI Genki II. Workbook. Lesson 18. Listening Comprehension.

– Enguroo
3 hours ago





@BJCUAI Genki II. Workbook. Lesson 18. Listening Comprehension.

– Enguroo
3 hours ago













@BJCUAI what makes it a little unnatural?

– Enguroo
3 hours ago





@BJCUAI what makes it a little unnatural?

– Enguroo
3 hours ago













As Sazarando has indicated as well, asking a customer first thing which part of the computer is broken would be an unusual question.

– BJCUAI
3 hours ago







As Sazarando has indicated as well, asking a customer first thing which part of the computer is broken would be an unusual question.

– BJCUAI
3 hours ago












2 Answers
2






active

oldest

votes


















1














Yes, your assumptions are correct.



As 何 just means 'what', asking 'What is broken?' would be met with incredulity, as you already told the rep that the computer is broken.



(~の)どこ in cases such as this these, means 'which part of'. In essence, part of the subject is being omitted in the query from the rep. The full sentence would be 「コンピューターのどこが壊れたんですか。」



This use of (~の)どこ is fairly ubiquitous for specifying the part or specific location of something ('Where does it hurt?', 'Which section/area of the park should we meet?', 'What don't you like about me?', etc.)






share|improve this answer































    2














    In this context it would be odd to ask 何が壊れたんですか? because the answer would obviously be コンピューターです




    Customer: My computer is broken.(コンピューターが壊れてしまったんです)



    Service Tech: What's broken?(何が壊れたんですか?)



    Customer: I just said it's my computer!(コンピューターだと言ったでしょ?)




    A better response would be...




    Service Tech: How is it broken? (What's wrong with it?)




    The way to ask this in Japanese is to use どこが壊れたんですか?





    • 何が壊れたんですか? → What (thing) is broken?


    • どこが壊れたんですか? → What (about the thing) is broken?


    • どのように壊れたんですか? → How did (the thing) come to be broken?


    You should use どこが when you want to know "what part of" or "in what way" some state came to be.




    • 何が悪いんですか? → What's bad?


    • どこが悪いんですか? → What's bad about it?


    --




    • 何が分からないの? → What don't (you) understand?


    • どこが分からないの? → What part don't (you) understand?






    share|improve this answer

























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      2 Answers
      2






      active

      oldest

      votes








      2 Answers
      2






      active

      oldest

      votes









      active

      oldest

      votes






      active

      oldest

      votes









      1














      Yes, your assumptions are correct.



      As 何 just means 'what', asking 'What is broken?' would be met with incredulity, as you already told the rep that the computer is broken.



      (~の)どこ in cases such as this these, means 'which part of'. In essence, part of the subject is being omitted in the query from the rep. The full sentence would be 「コンピューターのどこが壊れたんですか。」



      This use of (~の)どこ is fairly ubiquitous for specifying the part or specific location of something ('Where does it hurt?', 'Which section/area of the park should we meet?', 'What don't you like about me?', etc.)






      share|improve this answer




























        1














        Yes, your assumptions are correct.



        As 何 just means 'what', asking 'What is broken?' would be met with incredulity, as you already told the rep that the computer is broken.



        (~の)どこ in cases such as this these, means 'which part of'. In essence, part of the subject is being omitted in the query from the rep. The full sentence would be 「コンピューターのどこが壊れたんですか。」



        This use of (~の)どこ is fairly ubiquitous for specifying the part or specific location of something ('Where does it hurt?', 'Which section/area of the park should we meet?', 'What don't you like about me?', etc.)






        share|improve this answer


























          1












          1








          1







          Yes, your assumptions are correct.



          As 何 just means 'what', asking 'What is broken?' would be met with incredulity, as you already told the rep that the computer is broken.



          (~の)どこ in cases such as this these, means 'which part of'. In essence, part of the subject is being omitted in the query from the rep. The full sentence would be 「コンピューターのどこが壊れたんですか。」



          This use of (~の)どこ is fairly ubiquitous for specifying the part or specific location of something ('Where does it hurt?', 'Which section/area of the park should we meet?', 'What don't you like about me?', etc.)






          share|improve this answer













          Yes, your assumptions are correct.



          As 何 just means 'what', asking 'What is broken?' would be met with incredulity, as you already told the rep that the computer is broken.



          (~の)どこ in cases such as this these, means 'which part of'. In essence, part of the subject is being omitted in the query from the rep. The full sentence would be 「コンピューターのどこが壊れたんですか。」



          This use of (~の)どこ is fairly ubiquitous for specifying the part or specific location of something ('Where does it hurt?', 'Which section/area of the park should we meet?', 'What don't you like about me?', etc.)







          share|improve this answer












          share|improve this answer



          share|improve this answer










          answered 3 hours ago









          BJCUAIBJCUAI

          5,087311




          5,087311























              2














              In this context it would be odd to ask 何が壊れたんですか? because the answer would obviously be コンピューターです




              Customer: My computer is broken.(コンピューターが壊れてしまったんです)



              Service Tech: What's broken?(何が壊れたんですか?)



              Customer: I just said it's my computer!(コンピューターだと言ったでしょ?)




              A better response would be...




              Service Tech: How is it broken? (What's wrong with it?)




              The way to ask this in Japanese is to use どこが壊れたんですか?





              • 何が壊れたんですか? → What (thing) is broken?


              • どこが壊れたんですか? → What (about the thing) is broken?


              • どのように壊れたんですか? → How did (the thing) come to be broken?


              You should use どこが when you want to know "what part of" or "in what way" some state came to be.




              • 何が悪いんですか? → What's bad?


              • どこが悪いんですか? → What's bad about it?


              --




              • 何が分からないの? → What don't (you) understand?


              • どこが分からないの? → What part don't (you) understand?






              share|improve this answer






























                2














                In this context it would be odd to ask 何が壊れたんですか? because the answer would obviously be コンピューターです




                Customer: My computer is broken.(コンピューターが壊れてしまったんです)



                Service Tech: What's broken?(何が壊れたんですか?)



                Customer: I just said it's my computer!(コンピューターだと言ったでしょ?)




                A better response would be...




                Service Tech: How is it broken? (What's wrong with it?)




                The way to ask this in Japanese is to use どこが壊れたんですか?





                • 何が壊れたんですか? → What (thing) is broken?


                • どこが壊れたんですか? → What (about the thing) is broken?


                • どのように壊れたんですか? → How did (the thing) come to be broken?


                You should use どこが when you want to know "what part of" or "in what way" some state came to be.




                • 何が悪いんですか? → What's bad?


                • どこが悪いんですか? → What's bad about it?


                --




                • 何が分からないの? → What don't (you) understand?


                • どこが分からないの? → What part don't (you) understand?






                share|improve this answer




























                  2












                  2








                  2







                  In this context it would be odd to ask 何が壊れたんですか? because the answer would obviously be コンピューターです




                  Customer: My computer is broken.(コンピューターが壊れてしまったんです)



                  Service Tech: What's broken?(何が壊れたんですか?)



                  Customer: I just said it's my computer!(コンピューターだと言ったでしょ?)




                  A better response would be...




                  Service Tech: How is it broken? (What's wrong with it?)




                  The way to ask this in Japanese is to use どこが壊れたんですか?





                  • 何が壊れたんですか? → What (thing) is broken?


                  • どこが壊れたんですか? → What (about the thing) is broken?


                  • どのように壊れたんですか? → How did (the thing) come to be broken?


                  You should use どこが when you want to know "what part of" or "in what way" some state came to be.




                  • 何が悪いんですか? → What's bad?


                  • どこが悪いんですか? → What's bad about it?


                  --




                  • 何が分からないの? → What don't (you) understand?


                  • どこが分からないの? → What part don't (you) understand?






                  share|improve this answer















                  In this context it would be odd to ask 何が壊れたんですか? because the answer would obviously be コンピューターです




                  Customer: My computer is broken.(コンピューターが壊れてしまったんです)



                  Service Tech: What's broken?(何が壊れたんですか?)



                  Customer: I just said it's my computer!(コンピューターだと言ったでしょ?)




                  A better response would be...




                  Service Tech: How is it broken? (What's wrong with it?)




                  The way to ask this in Japanese is to use どこが壊れたんですか?





                  • 何が壊れたんですか? → What (thing) is broken?


                  • どこが壊れたんですか? → What (about the thing) is broken?


                  • どのように壊れたんですか? → How did (the thing) come to be broken?


                  You should use どこが when you want to know "what part of" or "in what way" some state came to be.




                  • 何が悪いんですか? → What's bad?


                  • どこが悪いんですか? → What's bad about it?


                  --




                  • 何が分からないの? → What don't (you) understand?


                  • どこが分からないの? → What part don't (you) understand?







                  share|improve this answer














                  share|improve this answer



                  share|improve this answer








                  edited 3 hours ago

























                  answered 3 hours ago









                  sazarandosazarando

                  5,798720




                  5,798720






























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