疑問符（ぎもんふ、gimonfu）
- question mark

The Japanese word 疑問符 （ぎもんふ, *gimonfu*) means "question mark." It's the punctuation mark used at the end of a sentence to indicate that it's a question. It signals to the reader that the sentence is interrogative, prompting them to expect an answer. The 疑問符 itself doesn't carry a specific meaning beyond indicating a question. The meaning is inferred from the words and grammar used in the sentence leading up to it.

⚫︎これは何ですか？ Translation: What is this? ⚫︎あなたは元気ですか？ Translation: Are you well? ⚫︎今日の天気は晴れですか？ Translation: Is the weather fine today?

You use 疑問符 at the end of a sentence when you want to ask a question. ⚫︎It's generally used with sentences that use question words like 何 (なに) - *nani*- what, 誰 (だれ) - *dare*- who, どこ - *doko*- where, いつ - *itsu*- when, and どうして - *doushite*- why, or sentences that end with question particles such as か - *ka*. ⚫︎You can also use it in more casual writing, as well. ⚫︎In formal writing, the question mark might be omitted in favor of the sentence structure itself indicating a question.

⚫︎The word 疑問符 is typically written in kanji 疑問 combined with katakana 符. ⚫︎The reading is written in hiragana as ぎもんふ. ⚫︎There is no variation in the okurigana, as it is a compound word.

There aren't direct synonyms for 疑問符 because it’s a specific punctuation mark. However, other ways to express questions include: ⚫︎Using the question particle か (*ka*) at the end of a sentence. ⚫︎Rewording the sentence to explicitly ask a question.

There are no direct antonyms for 疑問符 as a punctuation mark. However, sentences that make statements rather than ask questions are considered the opposite.

この本は面白いですか？ ・Translation: Is this book interesting? ・Explanation: This sentence uses 疑問符 to indicate the question. The sentence uses the question particle か at the end to make it a question.

あの店はどこにありますか？ ・Translation: Where is that shop? ・Explanation: The sentence uses the question word どこ - *doko*- where and 疑問符 to form a question.

The word 疑問符 is a compound word. ⚫︎疑問 (*gimon*) means "question" or "doubt." ⚫︎符 (*fu*) means "mark," "symbol," or "sign." Therefore, the word 疑問符 literally translates to "question mark" or "sign of a question." The word was adopted into Japanese to represent the concept of the "question mark" punctuation mark in Western languages.