何(なに)

なに

pronoun

what

grammatical

1. what

A question word asking about things, actions, or matters. One of the most fundamental question words.

これは何(なん)ですか？

What is this?

何 is read as なん before です

何(なに)を食(た)べたいですか？

What do you want to eat?

何(なに)か飲(の)みますか？

Would you like something to drink?

何か = something

今日(きょう)は何(なに)をしましたか？

What did you do today?

何(なに)も買(か)わないで帰(かえ)りましたが、店(みせ)を見(み)るだけでも楽(たの)しかったです。

I went home without buying anything, but it was fun just looking around the shops.

何(なに)も + negative = nothing

Pronunciation

なに: before most particles (何(なに)を, 何(なに)が, 何(なに)か, 何(なに)も)
なん: before です and だ, before の, and with counters (何(なん)ですか, 何(なん)の本(ほん), 何人(なんにん), 何時(なんじ))

Common patterns

何(なに)か: something (何(なに)か食(た)べる: to eat something)
何(なに)も + negative: nothing (何(なに)も食(た)べない: to eat nothing)
何(なん)でも: anything, whatever

Watch out

In speech 何(なん)で usually means "why" (何(なん)で来(こ)なかったの？ "Why didn't you come?"). To ask "by what means," use 何(なに)で (何(なに)で行(い)く？ "How are you getting there?").

Related words

誰(だれ): who
どこ: where
いつ: when

何(なに)

Pronunciation

Common patterns

Watch out

Related words

Related Words