Consistency of question marks in written question sentences

Bunpro
#1

I’ve received a number of review questions, where I translated the written Japanese sentence as a statement, but then afterwards I revealed the English translation, which was marked as a question. This doesn’t sit well with me. E.g. I just received this sentence:

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Is this a mistake? Should the Japanese sentence end in a question mark? I have very poor understanding of this, but I thought that the question mark was only unneeded when a particle like か ended the sentence, clearly marking a question.

1 Like
#2

You are correct, it’s not a question though if you look at the bunpro explenation for でしょう it translate it by " right?" and “isn’t?” because the speaker is asking for your agreement on the matter and those are the closest translation in english.
Hope it makes it clearer!
If not I am certain other users will soon jump in with better explanation :smiley:

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#3

To clarify: I wasn’t claiming that it’s not a question. As I understand it, the Japanese sentence can be either a statement or a question. In speech, verbal tones will make it clear. In writing, I believe punctuation does that job.

So as written (in Japanese), no it is not a question. But as written in the English translation… it is. Which is where the confusion comes from. Either the translation is wrong, or the punctuation is. Impossible to say.

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#4

Putting aside the discussion on whether the Japanese sentence qualifies as a question, note that question marks didn’t actually used to be part of Japanese interpunction. A Japanese sentence functions as a question even if it ends in a full stop, as long as the contents of the sentence form a question.

While question marks and exclamation marks have been informally used in Japan for a long time already, the government only officially adopted them as recently as 2022.

Also note, for example, the sentences in the か grammar point on Bunpro:

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#5

Of course. Understood and agreed 100%. Let me be more explicit with my point.

Both of these sentences are questions (despite the difference punctuation):

  1. 景色が綺麗な場合は写真を撮るでしょうか。
  2. 景色が綺麗な場合は写真を撮るでしょうか？

Both of these sentences are not questions (because of the differing punctuation):

  1. 景色が綺麗な場合は写真を撮るでしょう。
  2. 景色が綺麗な場合は写真を撮るでしょう？

The example in my OP is #3, a statement. But the English translation Bunpro provides with that example corresponds to #4, a question.

Emphasis added. Agreed, and that is the key point here. Without the ending か, the contents of this sentence (#3 and #4) do not form a question, hence the question mark is required in writing.

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#6

Oh, you’re right. I see now that I what I posted is mostly outside of the scope of your OP, haha. Sorry about that.

Hmm, in that case, what is it that makes you say that–or wonder if–the Japanese sentence requires a question mark? Especially since all Japanese sentences can end in a full stop. As far as I know, there isn’t a specific rule about when question marks are required, while it is a fact that a full stop is correct at all times.

If you ask me, it comes down to this.

About the English translation:
The sentence seeks confirmation from the listener. That leaves it unsure whether or not it really qualifies as a question, but the only way to convey the same message in English is by using a question. I suppose that due to the different natures of the two languages, sometimes it is unavoidable that one language uses a question while the other doesn’t.

About the interpunction:
Regardless of whether the sentence qualifies as a question, a full stop is correct. I reckon many people would use a question mark simply because it feels natural to use one with a sentence that seeks confirmation from the listener, but it isn’t required.