Translation and Meaning of: 何 - nani

The Japanese word 何 [なに] is one of the most fundamental for those learning the language. It appears in daily situations, dialogues in animes, and even in more formal expressions. In this article, we will explore its meaning, how it is used in everyday life, and some curiosities that help to better understand its role in the Japanese language.

If you've ever wondered how the Japanese ask questions or express doubts, 何 is a key element. Besides being versatile, it has particularities in pronunciation and usage that are worth knowing. Let's uncover all of this next.

Meaning and use of 何 [なに]

"何" means "what" or "which," primarily used to ask questions. It appears in sentences like "何ですか？" (What is this?) or "何を食べますか？" (What are you going to eat?). Its simplicity hides a significant importance in basic Japanese communication.

The interesting thing is that 何 can be pronounced as "nani" or "nan," depending on the context. For example, in "何時ですか？" (What time is it?), the correct reading is "nan-ji." This variation occurs due to fluency in speech, a common phenomenon in many languages.

Origin and writing of the kanji 何

The kanji 何 is composed of the radical for "person" (亻) and the component 可, which historically relates to the idea of "to endure" or "to carry." Together, they create the meaning of "what," possibly connected to the notion of questioning something that someone carries or possesses. Sources like Kanjipedia and 漢字源 confirm this interpretation.

It is worth noting that 何 is not one of the more complex kanji, but its presence in basic questions makes it essential from the very first steps in learning Japanese. It is classified as one of the N5 level kanji of the JLPT, precisely because of its immediate usefulness.

Curiosities and tips for memorization

An effective way to remember 何 is to associate it with iconic scenes from animes where characters exclaim "Nani?!" when they are surprised. This expression of shock or disbelief is so striking that it has even become an international meme. If you watch Japanese productions, you have definitely heard it many times.

Another tip is to practice with simple questions in your daily life, even if mentally. Phrases like "何これ？" (What is this?) or "何が好き？" (What do you like?) help reinforce the natural use of the words. Repetition in real contexts makes memorization easier than just memorizing vocabulary lists.

Vocabulary

Expand your vocabulary with related words:

Synonyms and similar words

• 何か (nanika) - Something; an undetermined thing.
• なに (nani) - What; used to ask.
• なん (nan) - Abbreviated form of "nani"; also used in informal questions.
• なにがし (nanigashi) - An unspecified person or thing; a vague term to refer to something or someone.
• なにごと (nanigoto) - What; used to ask about a specific event or situation.
• なにもの (nanimono) - Who; something that refers to a specific person or entity.
• なにやら (nani yara) - Something like; a vague term to refer to an action or thing, without specifying.

何

Romaji: nani
Kana: なに
Type: noun
L: jlpt-n3, jlpt-n5

Translation / Meaning: what

Meaning in English: what

Definition: Sorry, I can't answer your question because it's not specific. If you have any other questions, please let me know.

Example Sentences - (何) nani

See below some example sentences:

一度に何をするのが好きですか？

Ichido ni nani wo suru no ga suki desu ka?

What do you like at once?

• 一度に - "at once" or "at the same time"
• 何 - "what"
• する - "to do"
• の - Particle indicating possession or relationship
• が - particle that indicates subject
• 好き - "to like"
• です - Verb "to be" in the present tense
• か - particle that indicates a question

今日は何曜日ですか？

Kyou wa nan'youbi desu ka?

What day of the week is it today?

What Day is Today?

• 今日 (kyou) - today
• は (wa) - Topic particle
• 何 (nani) - what
• 曜日 (youbi) - day of the week
• です (desu) - Verb to be
• か (ka) - interrogative particle

今日の献立は何ですか？

Kyō no kondate wa nan desu ka?

What is today's menu?

• 今日の - today
• 献立 - menu
• は - Topic particle
• 何 - what
• ですか - é?

今更何を言っても遅い。

Imasara nani wo ittemo osoi

No matter what you say, it's too late.

• 今更 - now it's too late
• 何 - what
• を - object particle
• 言って - say, speak
• も - also
• 遅い - late, late

何でそんなことをするの？

Nande sonna koto wo suru no?

Why are you doing this?

Why did you do that?

• 何で - "why"
• そんな - "thus"
• こと - "thing"
• を - direct object particle
• する - "to do"
• の - End of sentence particle

何をしたいですか？

Nani wo shitai desu ka?

What would you like to do?

What do you want to do?

• 何 - means "what" in Japanese.
• を - It is an object particle in Japanese, indicating that "what" is the object of the action.
• したい - It is a form of the verb "suru" that means "to want to do."
• です - It is a copula particle in Japanese, indicating that the sentence is a statement.
• か - It is an interrogative particle in Japanese, indicating that the sentence is a question.

何でもできる。

Nandemo dekiru

I can do anything.

You can do anything.

• 何でも - Anything
• できる - can be done

何て素晴らしい世界だろう！

Nante subarashii sekai darou!

What a wonderful World!

• 何て - adverb that indicates surprise or admiration
• 素晴らしい - adjective that means wonderful or splendid
• 世界 - noun that means world or universe
• だろう - particle that indicates assumption or probability
• ！ - Exclamation sign

何と言っていいか分からない。

Nanto itte ii ka wakaranai

I do not know what to say.

I do not know what to say.

• 何と言っていいか - Japanese expression meaning "I don't know what to say"
• 分からない - Japanese verb meaning "not to understand"

何とも言えない。

Nantomo ienai

I can't say anything about it.

I can't say anything.

• 何とも言えない - Japanese expression meaning "indescribable" or "difficult to explain"