How to Say ‘When will they come?’ in Japanese
いつ来ますか？
itsu ki masu ka
[ee-tsoo kee mahs kah]
💬 Usage Tip: [来ます] can mean "comes" or "will come"; Japanese often leaves the future sense to context. In a question like [いつ来ますか？], it naturally means "when will they come?".
Phrase Breakdown
いつ
itsu
[ee-tsoo]
when
A question word used to ask about time.
いつ来ますか。
When will (they) come?
来ます
ki masu
come / will come
Polite present/future form of 来る, meaning to come.
先生が来ます。
The teacher is coming.
Words in this phrase
来
ki
[kee]
come
The kanji part of the verb 来ます, meaning to come.
もう来ました。
(They) already came.
ます
masu
[mahs]
polite ending
A polite verb ending used in non-past polite forms.
すぐ来ます。
(They) will come soon.
か
ka
[kah]
question marker
A sentence-ending particle that marks a question in polite Japanese.
大丈夫ですか。
Is it okay?
Get the Full Learning Experience
This lesson is just a preview. Download PrettyFluent to practice pronunciation, roleplay conversations, and master vocabulary with spaced repetition.
Pronunciation Feedback
AI-powered speech recognition to perfect your accent
Spaced Repetition
Retain vocabulary long-term with smart practice
Immersive Roleplaying
Practice real conversations with AI partners
Custom Scenarios
Request lessons tailored to your specific needs
Get Full LessonWhat Learners Are Saying
“Teaching in Osaka and I wanted to connect with my students beyond the classroom. The everyday conversation scenarios made my Japanese feel natural, not textbook-y.”
Mia S., 25, English Teacher
“Moved to Tokyo and the polite vs. casual speech levels were killing me. This app breaks it all down with real scenarios. My coworkers noticed the difference in weeks.”
Kevin Z., 31, Game Developer
“I tried five different apps before this one. The roleplay conversations are what finally made things click. I actually remember what I learn now.”
Sofia R., 31, Marketing Manager