Japanese phrase
どのように呼ばれますか？ do no yō ni yo ba re ma su ka
Meaning
What is it called?
When to use it
Asks what a person, place, or thing is called. It is polite and somewhat formal, while casual speech often uses a shorter question.
Example dialogue
この手続きは、正式にはどのように呼ばれますか？ ko no te tsuzu ki wa sei shiki ni wa do no yō ni yo ba re ma su ka
What is this procedure officially called?
正式には、更新手続きと呼ばれます。 sei shiki ni wa kō shin te tsuzu ki to yo ba re ma su
It is officially called a renewal procedure.