Japanese phrase
___は分別して捨てますか？ ___ wa bun betsu shi te su te ma su ka
Meaning
Do you sort ___ before disposing of it?
When to use it
Asks whether an item is sorted before disposal. It is a polite, direct way to check local waste-sorting practices without suggesting that sorting is required.
Example dialogue
ペットボトルは分別して捨てますか？ pe tto bo to ru wa bun betsu shi te su te ma su ka
Do you sort plastic bottles before disposing of them?
はい、資源ごみに出します。 ha i shi gen go mi ni da shi ma su
Yes, I put them out as recyclables.