At a glance
どういう + Noun means "what kind of" or "what sort of" (noun). It asks about the nature or content of something, and is very common when asking for clarification.
どういう + Noun
この言葉はどういう意味ですか。 What does this word mean?
How to form it
どういう goes directly before the noun, with nothing in between. It does not change form. Politeness comes from the end of the sentence.
| Attaches to | Example | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Noun + ですか (polite) | どういう意味ですか。 | What does it mean? |
| Noun (casual) | どういう人？ | What kind of person? |
| の ("one") | どういうのがいい？ | What kind (of one) is good? |