どこ – Doko – Where? – Phrases and usage examples

Do you know what doko [どこ] means? In this article, we will look at the meaning of doko and some example sentences, as well as some derived and created words from this Japanese pronoun that means: “where”.

Doko [どこ or 何処] is a pronoun that is part of the kosoado, and means “where; from where; to where”. It is a quite frequent word in the Japanese language. It can be compared to “Where” in English.

Doko can also convey the idea of when, or from what point. Its meaning can change depending on how it is used. It is commonly used for expressions like everything, nothing, and place.

Where Is It? [どこですか]

If you are looking for something, you will use the phrase “Doko Desu Ka” [どこですか] which means “where is it?”, and you should use the object you are looking for before (Japanese uses SOV structure), followed by the particle [は].

Example: Where is the bathroom?

トイレはどこですか 
Toire wa doko desu ka 

Also read:

• Where to start studying Japanese? How? In what order?
• SOV Structure – How to Create Sentences in Japanese

Examples of the use of どこ (何処) Doko

Portuguese	Japanese	Romaji
Where are you now? (inf)	今どこにいるの？	ima doko ni iru no?
Where are you now? (for)	あなたは今どこにいますか。	anata wa ima doko ni imasu ka?
Where do you live?	あなたはどこに住んでいますか？	Anata wa doko ni sunde imasu ka?
Which team plays tonight?	こんや はどことどこが 戦 たたか いますか	kon’ya wa doko to doko ga tatakaimasu ka?
Excuse me, where is the hotel?	すみません、ホテルはどこですか?	Sumimasen, hoteru wa doko desu ka?
(The hotel) is over there.	ホテル は あそこ です。	(Hoteru wa) asoko desu.
Where is your company?	あなた の 会社 は どこ ですか	Anata no kaisha wa doko desu ka.
Where is the train station?	駅 は どこですか?	Eki wa doko desu ka?
Where are we? or What place is this?	ここ は どこ ですか?	Koko wa doko desuka?
Where does the bus come from?	バス は どこ から 出発 しますか?	Basu wa doko kara shuppatsu shimasuka?
Where are you going?	どこ へ 行き ますか?	doko e ikimasuka?

Other words derived from doko

• どこかに – Dokokani – Somewhere;
• どこかへ – Dokokahe – Somewhere;
• どこへでも – Dokohedemo – Anywhere;
• どこにでも – Dokonidemo – Everywhere;
• どこにも – Dokonimo – Nowhere;
• 何処 – Doko – Old Kanji, rarely used;
• どこら　どこいら – Dokora (ira) – Where to;
• どこそこ – Dokosoko – Where is there?

Have you managed to fix this word in your mind? Have you gotten used to using it? Unlike the word where, you may notice that its use extends to more horizons. Over time you will be able to know all its uses.