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:

彼は何も言わなかった。

Kare wa nanimo iwanakatta

He did not say anything.

• 彼 - The Japanese pronoun that means "he" is 彼 (かれ, kare).
• は - Japanese particle that indicates the topic of the sentence, in this case "he".
• 何も - Japanese adverb that means "nothing" or "none"
• 言わなかった - Japanese verb meaning "did not say" or "did not speak", conjugated in the negative past
• . - full stop, indicating the end of the sentence

彼女は私に何を問うのか分からない。

Kanojo wa watashi ni nani o tou no ka wakaranai

I don't know what she is asking me.

She doesn't know what she asks.

• 彼女 - She
• は - Topic particle
• 私に - for me
• 何を - what
• 問う - to ask
• のか - Particle that indicates a question
• 分からない - I don't know

恐れることは何もない。

Osoreru koto wa nanimo nai

There is nothing to fear.

There is no fear.

• 恐れる (osoreru) - verb meaning "to fear"
• こと (koto) - noun that means "thing"
• は (wa) - Particle indicating the topic of the sentence
• 何も (nanimo) - adverb meaning "nothing"
• ない (nai) - suffix indicating negation

暇な時に何をしますか？

Hima na toki ni nani wo shimasu ka?

What do you do when you are free?

• 暇な時 - It means "free time" in Japanese.
• に - It is a Japanese particle that indicates time or place.
• 何 - means "what" in Japanese.
• を - is a Japanese particle that indicates the direct object of the sentence.
• します - It is the verb "fazer" in Japanese, conjugated in the present.
• か - It is a Japanese particle that indicates a question.

私の内線番号は何ですか？

Watashi no naisen bangou wa nan desu ka?

What is my internal extension number?

What is my extension number?

• 私 (watashi) - The personal pronoun that means "I" in Japanese.
• の (no) - particle that indicates possession or relationship between two things
• 内線番号 (naisen bangou) - The expression that means "extension number" in Japanese.
• は (wa) - particle that indicates the topic of the sentence
• 何 (nani) - interrogative pronoun that means "what" in Japanese
• ですか (desu ka) - expression that indicates a formal question in Japanese

空ろな心に何かが欠けている。

Karōna kokoro ni nanika ga kakete iru

Something is missing in the empty heart.

• 空ろな - empty, hollow
• 心 - heart, mind
• に - particle indicating action or state in which something is
• 何か - something
• が - particle that indicates the subject of the sentence
• 欠けている - missing, incomplete

象徴するものは何ですか？

Shouchou suru mono wa nan desu ka?

What is the symbol?

• 象徴する - verb that means "symbolize"
• もの - noun that means "thing"
• は - particle that indicates the topic of the sentence
• 何 - interrogative pronoun that means "what"
• ですか - particle that indicates a formal question