Translation guide
Used in questions to express surprise, disbelief, or emphasis, similar to 'in the world' or 'the hell'. In Japanese, this is expressed with specific question patterns and particles, not a direct translation.
The speaker is shocked, confused, or cannot believe something, and asks a question with strong emphasis.
The most common and versatile way to add 'on earth' to a question. 一体 (ittai) literally means 'what on earth' or 'in the world'. It can be used with any question word (何, 誰, どこ, いつ, なぜ, どうして, etc.) and in both polite and casual speech.
一体何が起こったんだ？
What on earth happened?
Who on earth said such a thing?
一体どこに行くつもりですか？
Where on earth are you planning to go?
Using なんだ (casual) or なんですか (polite) after a question word adds emphasis, similar to 'on earth'. It seeks an explanation and often conveys surprise or insistence.
これは何なんだ？
What on earth is this?
あの人は誰なんですか？
Who on earth is that person?
Adding だろう (casual) or でしょう (polite) to a question word expresses wonder or speculation, often with a nuance of 'on earth' when the speaker is puzzled.
なぜだろう？
Why on earth?
どうして彼は来なかったんでしょう？
Why on earth didn't he come?
A stronger, more emphatic version of 一体. 全体 (zentai) means 'whole' or 'entire', so いったい全体 is like 'what in the whole world'. Used for extreme surprise or frustration.
いったい全体何を考えているんだ？
What on earth are you thinking?
The speaker is not really asking for information but expressing annoyance, scolding, or emphasizing a point.
Combines 一体 with the explanatory なの/なんですか for a strong rhetorical effect. Often used when scolding or expressing exasperation.
一体何をやってるんだ！
What on earth are you doing!
一体どういうつもりなの？
What on earth do you mean by that?
Using って or というの after a question word can make the question sound more pointed or rhetorical, similar to 'what on earth do you mean by...'.
何だって？
What on earth? (What did you say?)
誰がそんなこと言ったっていうの？
Who on earth said that?
The speaker wants to ask something surprising or personal but softens it to be polite or less confrontational.
Using でしょうか instead of ですか makes the question more polite and less direct, suitable for formal situations or when asking about something potentially sensitive.
一体何が問題なのでしょうか？
What on earth could be the problem?
Adding かな (gender-neutral, casual) or かしら (feminine, casual) to a question word expresses wonder or self-questioning, often softening the question. It can carry a nuance of 'I wonder what on earth...'.
何が起こったのかな？
What on earth happened, I wonder?
誰が来るのかしら？
Who on earth is coming, I wonder?
There is no direct Japanese equivalent of the phrase 'on earth'. Avoid literal translations like 地球上で (chikyūjō de), which means 'on the surface of the Earth' and is not used for emphasis.
一体何をしているの？
What on earth are you doing?
一体 is the standard, neutral way to add emphasis. なんて can also express surprise or disbelief but is more like 'such a' or 'what a'. いったい全体 is stronger and more emotional, often used in anger or extreme confusion.
一体どうしたの？
What on earth is wrong?
なんてことだ！
What on earth! (What a thing!)
いったい全体何が目的なんだ？
What on earth is your goal?
In casual speech, you can sometimes convey the 'on earth' feeling just by stressing the question word and using a rising intonation, without any special particle. However, adding 一体 makes it explicit.
何？！
What on earth?!
一体どうやってそれをやったの？
How on earth did you do that?
一体なぜそんなことを言うの？
Why on earth would you say that?
一体今までどこにいたの？
Where on earth have you been?