How to differentiate between asking for the location of a place and its name?

[TGO]

Hi guys...juz wanna ask one simple question, can あなたの学校はどちらですか mean both where is your school and what is the name of your school? Can i use あなたの学校の名前はなんですか to ask for the school's name? Are there any better expressions? Doumo arigatou

 

[yukio_michael]

Wouldn't "Where is your school?" be:

anata no gakkou wa, doko desu ka?

& "What is your school's name?" be:

anata no oname no gakkou wa, nan desu ka?

 

[Elizabeth]

Hi guys...juz wanna ask one simple question, can あなたの学校はどちらですか mean both where is your school and what is the name of your school?

If I heard this I would think which is your school ？ Either which one (of two) or which direction depending on the context.

 

[KrazyKat]

どこの学校？ Which school do you go to?/What is the name of your school?
学校はどこ？ Where is your school?

 

[epigene]

Hi guys...juz wanna ask one simple question, can あなたの学校はどちらですか mean both where is your school and what is the name of your school?

Yes, and it is used commonly. It can be interpreted in the two ways, as well as in terms of direction toward to school as Elizabeth mentioned. The real meaning is picked from context. To tell you the truth, even a native Japanese speaker can interpret it wrongly, if not careful enough!

Can i use あなたの学校の名前はなんですか to ask for the school's name? Are there any better expressions? Doumo arigatou

Yes, you can use it. And you can use also どこの学校（ですか？）as KrazyKat has posted.

HTH!

 

[Damicci]

Similar to どちらから来ましたか？
I have also heard どちら used for asking what school.
Also 今日これからどちらへ？ where are you headed today? (where are you going today?)

 

[TGO]

Thanks for clarifying!! doumo...