Page 371 - Basic Japanese

ask the question with the word dochira (often pronounced

dotchi) ‘which one’ or dochira no hō (dotchi no hō) ‘which
alternative’:

銀行と映画館では，どちら（の方）が大きいですか。
Ginkō to eigakan de wa, dochira (no hō) ga ōkii desu ka.
Which is bigger, the bank or the theater?

健二さんと博さんでは，どちらが優しいでしょうね。
Kenji-san to Hiroshi-san de wa, dochira ga yasashii deshō

ne.
Which one is kinder, Kenji or Hiroshi, I wonder.

If you ask about three or more things, the question word

is dore ‘which (of several),’ and if the question is about three
or more people, it is dare ‘who.’ In addition you add the word

ichiban ‘number one; most of all’ before the adjective.

牛肉と豚肉と鶏肉のうちでは，どれが一番高いです

か。
Gyūniku to butaniku to toriniku no uchi de wa, dore ga

ichiban takai desu ka.
Which is the most expensive—beef, pork, or
chicken?

健二さんと博さんと誠さんのうち，誰が一番背が高い
でしょうかね。

Kenji-san to Hiroshi-san to Makoto-san no uchi, dare ga
ichiban se ga takai deshō ka ne.

I wonder who would be the tallest, Kenji, Hiroshi,
or Makoto.

7.18. 一番 ichiban