Useful Japanese Phrases/Sentences: What? Where? Why?

• What?
• What is it?
• Nan desu ka?

• What's this? (in speaker's hand)
• Kore wa nan desu ka?

• What is it? (in the listener's hand)
• Sore wa nan desu ka?

• What's that? (in the sky)
• Are wa nan desu ka?

                Note: 

                       - kore: this (something close to you - the speaker)

                       - sore: it (close to the person you are talking to - the listener)

                       - are: that (some distance away from both)

• Where?
• Where is it?
• Doko desu ka?

• Where is the toilet?
• Toire wa doko desu ka?

• Why?
• Why is it?
• Naze desu ka?  (Informal: Naze?, Doushite?, Nande?)