| Let's look at how this pattern is constructed. |
| Do you remember how the character said, |
| It’s okay. Don’t worry about it. Let me treat you to something. Which do you prefer, cake or ice cream? |
| ケーキと アイスクリームと どちらが いいですか｡ (Kēki to aisukurīmu to dochira ga ii desu ka.) |
| ケーキと アイスクリームと どちらが いいですか｡ (Kēki to aisukurīmu to dochira ga ii desu ka.) |
| This sentence follows the pattern here. |
| This pattern is the structure that all of our examples will follow. |
| [Noun 1] と [Noun 2]と どちらが いいですか｡ ([Noun 1] to [Noun 2] to, dochira ga ii desu ka.) |
| "Which do you prefer, A or B?" |
| This pattern is used to ask someone which of two items they prefer. First, you name the two things you’re comparing and connect them with と, which means "and." Then you ask どちらが いいですか, which means "which is better?" or "which do you prefer?" どちら means "which one" when choosing between two options, and いいですか is a polite way to ask "is good?" or "is preferred?" |
| Let’s see how the line from the dialogue follows this pattern. |
| ケーキと アイスクリームと どちらが いいですか。(Kēki to aisukurīmu to dochira ga ii desu ka.) |
| In this sentence: |
| ケーキ means "cake" and is the first noun. |
| と connects it to the next noun. |
| アイスクリーム means "ice cream." |
| と appears again for natural rhythm and emphasis, though one is grammatically sufficient in casual speech. |
| どちらが asks "which one" — it’s the subject of the sentence. |
| いいですか is the polite form of "is good" or "do you prefer." |
| Another similar pattern is |
| [Noun 1] と [Noun 2]と どちらに しますか｡ ([Noun 1] to [Noun 2], dochira ni shimasu ka.) |
| Which means |
| "Which one will you choose, A or B?" |
| Now let's look at some speaking examples. |
| 電車と バスと どちらが いいですか｡ (Densha to basu to dochira ga ii desu ka.) |
| Which is better, the train or the bus? |
| Can you see how the pattern applies here? |
| Let's break it down: |
| Here, 電車 (densha) means “train,” and バス (basu) means “bus.” The particle と (to) is used after each noun to indicate alternatives in a choice. So 電車と バスと (densha to basu to) sets up the two options being compared. |
| Next, どちら (dochira) is an interrogative word meaning “which (of two).” It is the subject of the sentence and is marked by the particle が (ga), giving us どちらが (dochira ga) — “which one is…” |
| Finally, we have いいですか (ii desu ka). The word いい (ii) is the adjective meaning “good” or “better” when used in a comparative context, and ですか makes it a polite question. |
| So, いい is the adjective being used to ask for a preference — “Which is better?” |
| Here's another example |
| バナナと いちごと どちらに しますか｡ (Banana to ichigo to dochira ni shimasu ka.) |
| Which will you choose, banana or strawberry? |
| バナナと いちごと どちらに しますか｡ (Banana to ichigo to dochira ni shimasu ka.) |
| Which will you choose, banana or strawberry? |
| Let's try one more, |
| ワインは あかと しろと どちらに しますか｡ (Wain wa aka to shiro to dochira ni shimasu ka.) |
| For wine, will you choose red or white? |
| ワインは あかと しろと どちらに しますか｡ (Wain wa aka to shiro to dochira ni shimasu ka.) |
| For wine, will you choose red or white? |
Comments
Hide