Japanese phrase
___の由来は何ですか？ ___ no yu rai wa nan de su ka
Meaning
What is the origin of ___?
When to use it
Asks where a name, word, place, or custom comes from. It is a polite way to ask about its history or background.
Example dialogue
この言葉、面白いですね。 ko no koto ba omo shiro i de su ne
This word is interesting.
そうですね。この言葉の由来は何ですか？ sō de su ne ko no koto ba no yu rai wa nan de su ka
Yes, it is interesting. What is the origin of this word?