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:

何事も成る程度に。

Nanigoto mo naru teido ni

Everything happens in its own time.

As everything happens.

• 何事も - means "everything" or "anything".
• 成る - means "to become" or "to happen".
• 程度に - means "to a certain extent" or "to a certain degree".

何の問題もない。

Nan no mondai mo nai

There's no problem.

No problem.

• 何の - interrogative pronoun meaning "which" or "that"
• 問題 - noun meaning "problem"
• も - particle that indicates inclusion, that is, "also"
• ない - negative form of the verb "aru" which means "not to exist"

何時までもあなたを愛しています。

Nanji made mo anata wo aishiteimasu

I will love you forever.

I love you forever.

• 何時までも - always
• あなたを - you
• 愛しています - love

何処に行きますか？

Doko ni ikimasu ka?

Where are you going?

Where will you go?

• 何処 - Where
• に - Particle that indicates the place where something happens
• 行きます - Go
• か - Particle that indicates a question

何気ない日常が幸せだ。

Nanigenai nichijou ga shiawase da

I am happy with the Casual Daily Life.

• 何気ない - "Nanigenai" means "insignificant" or "common".
• 日常 - "Nichijou" means "everyday life" or "routine".
• が - "Ga" is a grammatical particle that indicates the subject of the sentence.
• 幸せ - "Shiawase" means "happiness" or "luck".
• だ - "Da" is a grammatical particle that indicates the end of the sentence and that the statement is true.

別に何でもない。

Betsu ni nandemo nai

It's nothing in particular.

Nothing separately.

• 別に - "it's nothing in particular"
• 何でも - "anything"
• ない - "does not exist"

原因は何ですか？

Gen'in wa nan desu ka?

What is the cause?

What is the reason?

• 原因 - means "cause" in Japanese.
• は - is a topic particle in Japanese, which indicates the subject of the sentence.
• 何 - means "what" in Japanese.
• です - It is a polite way to say "is" in Japanese.
• か - is an interrogative particle in Japanese, which indicates a question.

召し上がるものは何ですか？

Moshigagaru mono wa nan desu ka?

What would you like to eat?

What are you eaten?

• 召し上がる - verb that means "to eat" or "to drink" in Japanese
• もの - noun that means "thing" or "item"
• は - particle that indicates the topic of the sentence, in this case "what"
• 何 - interrogative pronoun that means "what"
• です - Verb "to be" in polite form
• か - Particle that indicates a question

名前は何ですか？

Namae wa nan desu ka?

What is your name?

What is your name?

• 名前 - means "name" in Japanese
• は - is a Japanese grammatical particle that indicates the topic of the sentence
• 何 - means "what" or "which" in Japanese
• です - is a polite way of saying "to be" or "to be" in Japanese
• か - is a Japanese grammatical particle that indicates a question

好きな食べ物は何ですか？

Sukina tabemono wa nanidesu ka?

What's your favourite food?

What is your favorite food?

• 好きな (suki na) - means "favorite"
• 食べ物 (tabemono) - means "food"
• は (wa) - grammatical particle that indicates the topic of the sentence
• 何 (nani) - it means "what"
• ですか (desu ka) - a grammatical particle that indicates a polite question