Topic N3
Japanese Learning
29. 一体 : On earth / In the world / Just what.
✏️Structure
一体 + Question sentence💡Usage
Used in questions to emphasize surprise, doubt, or confusion.
📚Examples
静かな住宅街で突然大きな爆発音が聞こえたが、一体何があったんですか。
Shizuka na juutakugai de totsuzen ookina bakuhatsuon ga kikoeta ga, ittai nani ga attan desu ka.
I suddenly heard a loud explosion in a quiet residential area; what on earth happened?
連絡もなしに約束の時間から二時間も過ぎている、彼女は一体どこに行ったの？
Renraku mo nashi ni yotei no jikan kara nijikan mo sugite iru, kanojo wa ittai doko ni itta no?
It's been two hours past the appointment time without any word; where on earth has she gone?
厳重に管理されていたはずの金庫からお金が消えてしまった。一体誰がやったんだ。
Genjuu ni kanri sarete ita hazu no kinko kara okane ga kiete shimatta. Ittai dare ga yattan da.
Money has disappeared from the safe that was supposed to be strictly managed. Who on earth did it?
もう夜中の一時を過ぎている、こんなに遅い時間まで一体何時に帰るつもり？
Mou yonaka no ichiji wo sugite iru, konna ni osoi jikan made ittai nanji ni kaeru tsumori?
It's already past 1 a.m.; just what time do you intend to come home so late at night?
何度説明してもプロジェクトの意図が伝わらず、私は一体どうしたらいいの？
Nando setsumei shite mo purojekuto no ito ga tsutawarazu, watashi wa ittai doushitara ii no?
No matter how many times I explain, the intent of the project isn't getting across; what on earth should I do?
この小規模なリフォームのためだけに、一体いくらかかるんですか。
Kono shoukibo na rifoomu no tame dake ni, ittai ikura kakaru n desu ka.
Just for this small-scale renovation, how much on earth is it going to cost?
私の質問に全く答えようとせず、黙り込んでいる彼は一体何を考えているの？
Watashi no shitsumon ni mattaku kotaeyou to sezu, damarikonde iru kare wa ittai nani wo kangaete iru no?
He's not trying to answer my questions at all and is just staying silent; what on earth is he thinking?
これは私と彼しか知らない秘密だったのに、一体どうやって知ったの？
Kore wa watashi to kare shika shiranai himitsu datta noni, ittai dou yatte shitta no?
This was a secret that only he and I knew, so how on earth did you find out?
欲しいものがたくさんあるのは分かるけれど、今、一体何が一番欲しいの？
Hoshii mono ga takusan aru no wa wakaru keredo, ima, ittai nani ga ichiban hoshii no?
I understand there are many things you want, but what on earth do you want most right now?
あなたの言動は非常に矛盾していて、一体どういう意味ですか。
Anata no gendou wa hijou ni mujun shite ite, ittai douiu imi desu ka.
Your words and actions are very contradictory; what on earth do you mean?