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こんにちは, みなさん!

I was just wondering if this sentence structure is correct when asking 'what (thing) is popular in (place)?'

The example I've chosen is 'what sports are popular in Japan?'

My attempts:

  1. どんなスポーツは日本で人気がありますか。

  2. 日本ではスポーツが人気がありますか。 (Not sure about repeating the 'が' particle)

Also, could you use this structure for questions like: 'What bars are popular in Tokyo?' 'What food is popular in Spain?' Etc.

Thanks in advance guys!

よろしくお願いします!

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  • Thanks! I I was typing this message on the bus and with my Spanish keyboard on as well I think. Aug 11, 2019 at 20:24

1 Answer 1

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I would personally probably say in most contexts:

日本ではどんなスポーツが人気がありますか。

to mean "In Japan, what kinds of sports are popular?".

Your first sentence is slightly incorrect, as you shouldn't use は when the topic is undefined (you don't know which sports are popular), and so making minimal edits should read:

どんなスポーツ日本で人気がありますか。

Your second sentence is grammatically fine, but means something different: "In Japan, are sports popular?" -- you might just get a yes/no answer to that question, whereas the first suggestion above should elicit a more detailed response.

The same structure can be used for other similar questions too. For example:

中国ではどんな化粧品が人気がありますか。

would mean "What sorts of cosmetics are popular in China?". Just change the noun and location of interest!

You might have to change the question word you use when it comes to more specific questions. Your question "Which bars are popular in Tokyo" would probably not be well understood if using どんなバー, as that would elicit responses about the types of bar that are popular (e.g. a hostess bar vs a hotel bar vs a sports bar). If you are looking for specific information about which bar, rather than what kind of bar, is popular, you would be better off using どのバー or どちらのバー.

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  • Doesn't arimasuka mean have?
    – Jack Bosma
    Aug 11, 2019 at 13:05
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    ですか would be a literal translation from English; the Japanese phrase for "be popular" is usually rendered 人気があります (lit. popularity exists)
    – henreetee
    Aug 11, 2019 at 13:07
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    Now I understand. I was attempting a rewrite!
    – Jack Bosma
    Aug 11, 2019 at 13:08
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    Thanks Henreetee, exactly the answer I was looking for. I see what you mean about the second attempt, I haven't put an interrogotive. And thanks for the advice on using 'どの --'. Appreciate the Chinese cosmetics example as well! よろしくお願いします! Aug 11, 2019 at 16:21
  • @KaneyDudey very welcome!
    – henreetee
    Aug 11, 2019 at 20:07

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