When you're trying to figure out what something is, you'll often hear the word なん (nan). Think of it like saying "what?" in English. It's a very common and useful word when you're asking questions.
For example, if you see something new and want to know what it is, you can ask, 「これはなんですか？」 (Kore wa nan desu ka?), which means "What is this?"
When you're trying to figure out what something is, or what's going on, you'll often use the word なん (nan). This word is a pronoun, and it essentially means "what." It's one of the most fundamental question words in Japanese.
You'll hear and use なん constantly in daily conversations. It's crucial for asking about objects, actions, and even reasons. Think of it as your go-to word for getting information when you're unsure.
When asking a question in Japanese, you will often use the word なん (nan). It means "what." You'll hear it in questions like "なんですか" (nan desu ka), which means "What is it?"
It can be used to ask for all sorts of information, from the name of an object to someone's occupation. For example, if you want to ask "What's your job?" you can say "お仕事は何ですか?" (Oshigoto wa nan desu ka?).
Keep in mind that なん can change to なに (nani) depending on the particles that follow it. You'll learn more about that later, but for now, focus on なん as the basic "what."
When using 「なん」 (nan), it's important to remember that it's a pronoun used for asking "what." You'll often see it paired with various particles depending on the grammatical role it plays in the sentence. For instance, 「なんですか」 (nan desu ka) is a common way to ask "What is it?" or "What is that?"
You'll also notice that 「なん」 can sometimes be pronounced as 「なに」 (nani), especially when followed by certain particles like 「に」 (ni) or 「を」 (o), or when used on its own as an interjection. However, when followed by a counter or certain nouns, it typically remains 「なん」, such as in 「なんじ」 (nan ji - what time) or 「なんにん」 (nan nin - how many people).
Understanding the context and the particles that follow 「なん」 will help you correctly use and understand this versatile word. Pay attention to how native speakers use it in different situations to grasp its nuances.
なん in 30 Sekunden
- Use to ask 'what'.
- Often precedes nouns or です/だ.
- Changes to なに (nani) in some contexts.
§ What is なん (nan)?
- Japanese Word
- なん (nan)
- Part of Speech
- pronoun
- CEFR Level
- A2
- Definition
- Used in questions to ask about something.
なん (nan) is a fundamental word in Japanese. It's essentially the Japanese equivalent of "what." You'll hear it constantly, whether you're asking for information, clarifying something, or just making small talk. Mastering なん (nan) is crucial for basic communication.
§ Where you actually hear this word — work, school, news
You'll encounter なん (nan) in almost any situation where questions are being asked. Here's a breakdown of how it's used in different contexts:
§ In Everyday Conversations
This is where you'll hear なん (nan) the most. It's used for simple questions and clarifying information.
これはなんですか？
Kore wa nan desu ka? (What is this?)
お名前はなんですか？
O-namae wa nan desu ka? (What is your name?)
趣味はなんですか？
Shumi wa nan desu ka? (What are your hobbies?)
§ In a Work Environment
At work, なん (nan) helps in asking about tasks, project details, or scheduling.
今日の予定はなんですか？
Kyou no yotei wa nan desu ka? (What is today's schedule?)
これはなんの書類ですか？
Kore wa nan no shorui desu ka? (What kind of document is this?)
プロジェクトの目的はなんですか？
Purojekuto no mokuteki wa nan desu ka? (What is the purpose of the project?)
§ In a School Setting
Students and teachers use なん (nan) to inquire about homework, lesson content, or school events.
今日の宿題はなんですか？
Kyou no shukudai wa nan desu ka? (What is today's homework?)
次の授業はなんですか？
Tsugi no jugyou wa nan desu ka? (What is the next class?)
テストはなん時からですか？
Tesuto wa nan-ji kara desu ka? (What time is the test from?)
§ In News and Media
In news reports, なん (nan) can be part of direct questions or used to introduce topics that are being investigated or discussed.
事件の理由はなんだったのでしょうか？
Jiken no riyuu wa nan datta no deshou ka? (What was the reason for the incident?)
新しい政策は、国民になんをもたらすのか？
Atarashii seisaku wa, kokumin ni nan wo motarasu no ka? (What will the new policy bring to the citizens?)
この研究の成果はなんですか？
Kono kenkyuu no seika wa nan desu ka? (What are the results of this research?)
§ なん (nan) vs. なに (nani)
You've learned that なん (nan) means "what." But you might also hear なに (nani) used for "what." What's the difference? This is a common point of confusion for Japanese learners, but it's not too difficult to get the hang of. Both なん and なに mean "what," but their usage depends on the sounds that follow them and the grammatical context.
Generally, なん (nan) is used before certain sounds (d, t, n) and some counters. なに (nani) is used in most other cases, especially when it stands alone or is followed by particles like を (o) or が (ga).
§ Using なん (nan)
You should use なん (nan) when it's followed by a word starting with a 'd' sound, 't' sound, or 'n' sound. This is a phonetic rule to make pronunciation smoother.
- Rule
- Use なん before sounds like だ (da), です (desu), で (de), と (to), に (ni).
なんですか？
What is it?
なんど？
What degree? (e.g., temperature)
なんのほん？
What kind of book?
なん is also frequently used before counters. Counters are special words in Japanese used when counting specific types of items (e.g., people, flat objects, long objects). This is a broad rule, so when in doubt with counters, often なん is the correct choice.
なんじ？
What time?
なんさい？
How old?
§ Using なに (nani)
You should use なに (nani) when it stands alone as a question, or when it's followed by a particle that doesn't start with a 'd', 't', or 'n' sound. This covers most other situations.
- Rule
- Use なに when it's alone, or followed by particles like を (o), が (ga), か (ka).
なに？
What? (as a standalone question)
これをなにとよみますか？
How do you read this?
なにをたべますか？
What will you eat?
なにがありますか？
What is there?
Let's look at a quick comparison list:
なん (nan):
Before です (desu): なん ですか (Nan desu ka? - What is it?)
Before と (to): なん と言いましたか (Nan to iimashita ka? - What did you say?)
Before a counter (like time): なん じ (Nan ji? - What time?)
なに (nani):
Standing alone: なに？ (Nani? - What?)
Before を (o): なに を しますか (Nani o shimasu ka? - What will you do?)
Before が (ga): なに が ほしいですか (Nani ga hoshii desu ka? - What do you want?)
How Formal Is It?
"何をご希望されますか？"
"何にしますか？"
"なに見てるの？"
"これはなに？"
"は？なにそれ？"
Wusstest du?
The kanji for 'nan' (何) is also read as 'nani'. Both 'nan' and 'nani' mean 'what', but 'nan' is typically used before certain particles (like です desu, と to, の no) or classifiers, while 'nani' is used in other contexts, especially when it's the direct object of a verb or when it stands alone. For example, 'Kore wa nan desu ka?' (What is this?) vs. 'Nani o shimasu ka?' (What will you do?)
Schwierigkeitsgrad
A single hiragana character, very easy to recognize.
Writing the hiragana な and ん is simple.
Pronunciation is straightforward.
Common and clear in spoken Japanese.
Was du als Nächstes lernen solltest
Als Nächstes lernen
Fortgeschritten
Wichtige Grammatik
なん is used for questions where the answer is non-animate. It can be used by itself or as part of a phrase.
なんですか。 (What is it?)
When なん is followed by a word starting with a T, D, N, or B sound, it often changes to なに. For example, なに + です = なにですか, but なん + の = なんの.
なにをしますか。(What will you do?)
なん can be used in phrases like なんじ (what time) or なんさい (how old).
なんじですか。(What time is it?)
When asking for a specific item from a group, なに is often preferred over なん.
どれをたべますか。(Which one will you eat?)
In casual speech, なん is often used in place of なに, even in situations where なに would typically be used.
なんする？ (What are you doing? - casual)
Beispiele nach Niveau
これはなんですか。
What is this?
なん is used with ですか to form a question.
おなまえはなんですか。
What is your name?
おなまえ (name) is followed by は (topic particle) and then なん.
それはなんのほんですか。
What kind of book is that?
なんの is used when asking about the type or category of something.
きょうはなんようびですか。
What day of the week is today?
なんようび is used to ask about the day of the week.
なんじですか。
What time is it?
なんじ is used to ask about the time.
おいくつですか。
How old are you? (polite)
Although おいくつ is used here for politeness, なんさい (what age) also uses なん.
これはなんのたべものですか。
What kind of food is this?
なんの followed by a noun asks about the nature or type of that noun.
なんばんのバスですか。
What number bus is it?
なんばん is used to ask about a number in a sequence.
これはなんですか？
What is this?
お名前はなんですか？
What is your name?
なんのえいがをみますか？
What movie are you watching?
なんじですか？
What time is it?
しゅみはなんですか？
What is your hobby?
なんさいですか？
How old are you? (Literally: What age are you?)
なんようびですか？
What day of the week is it?
これはなんのほんですか？
What kind of book is this? (Literally: What's this book of?)
これはなんですか？
What is this?
お名前はなんですか？
What is your name?
なんの用ですか？
What is your business? / What do you want?
なんでもいいです。
Anything is fine.
なん時ですか？
What time is it?
これはなんの映画ですか？
What kind of movie is this?
なんの音が聞こえますか？
What sound do you hear?
なんと言いましたか？
What did you say?
これはなんですか？
What is this?
A basic question asking to identify an object.
お名前はなんですか？
What is your name?
A common way to ask someone's name.
趣味はなんですか？
What are your hobbies?
Asking about someone's interests.
今日の夕食はなんにする？
What shall we have for dinner tonight?
Used when deciding on something to eat.
あの人はなんと言いましたか？
What did that person say?
Asking about the content of someone's speech.
週末の予定はなんですか？
What are your plans for the weekend?
Inquiring about future plans.
この漢字はなんという意味ですか？
What does this kanji mean?
Asking for the meaning of a word or character.
なんの用で来たの？
What business brought you here? / Why did you come?
Asking about the purpose of someone's visit.
これはなんですか？
What is this?
Basic question using 'nan' for 'what'.
お名前はなんですか？
What is your name?
Polite way to ask someone's name.
誕生日はなんですか？
What is your birthday?
Asking for someone's birthday.
趣味はなんですか？
What is your hobby?
Asking about hobbies.
なんの用ですか？
What is your business? / What do you need?
A direct way to ask why someone is there or what they want.
なんとかします。
I'll manage somehow. / I'll do something about it.
Expressing an intention to resolve a problem or situation.
なんでもない。
It's nothing. / Never mind.
Used to dismiss something or indicate that there's no problem.
なんという偶然！
What a coincidence!
An exclamation expressing surprise at a coincidence.
これはなんですか？
What is this?
Simple question asking about an object.
お名前はなんですか？
What is your name?
Common polite question for someone's name.
なんの用ですか？
What is your business? / What do you need?
Polite inquiry about someone's purpose or reason for being there.
なんと言いましたか？
What did you say?
Asking to confirm or repeat something someone said.
今日はなん曜日ですか？
What day of the week is it today?
Asking about the current day of the week.
なんのつもりですか？
What do you think you're doing? / What's your intention?
Expresses disapproval or surprise at someone's actions.
なんとかしてください！
Please do something! / Please manage somehow!
Expresses a plea for help or intervention.
なんでもいいですよ。
Anything is fine. / I don't mind.
Indicates flexibility or lack of preference.
Wird oft verwechselt mit
Both 'なん' and 'なに' mean 'what', but 'なん' is typically used before sounds that are t, d, n, r, or h-sounds (たちつてと、だぢづでど、なにぬねの、らりるれろ、はひふへほ). 'なに' is used in most other cases or when 'what' stands alone. For example, 'これは何ですか？' (What is this?) uses 'なに' because it stands alone, but '何時ですか？' (What time is it?) uses 'なん' because 'じ' starts with a 'j' sound.
'どの' means 'which' and is used when choosing from a specific, limited set of options. 'なん' (what) is used for open-ended questions.
'どんな' means 'what kind of' and asks for a description or characteristic. 'なん' (what) asks for the identity of something.
Grammatikmuster
Redewendungen & Ausdrücke
"何時ですか？ (なんじですか？)"
What time is it?
今、何時ですか？ (いま、なんじですか？)
neutral"何人ですか？ (なんにんですか？)"
How many people?
パーティーには何人来ますか？ (パーティーにはなんにんきますか？)
neutral"何歳ですか？ (なんさいですか？)"
How old are you?
お子さんは何歳ですか？ (おこさんはなんさいですか？)
neutral"何色ですか？ (なにいろですか？)"
What color is it?
そのかばんは何色ですか？ (そのかばんはなにいろですか？)
neutral"何曜日ですか？ (なんようびですか？)"
What day of the week is it?
明日は何曜日ですか？ (あしたはなんようびですか？)
neutral"何が好きですか？ (なにがすきですか？)"
What do you like?
どんな食べ物が好きですか？ (どんなたべものがすきですか？)
neutral"何を食べますか？ (なにをたべますか？)"
What will you eat?
お昼ご飯に何を食べますか？ (おひるごはんに何をたべますか？)
neutral"何をしますか？ (なにをしますか？)"
What will you do?
週末は何をしますか？ (しゅうまつはなにをしますか？)
neutral"何で来ましたか？ (なんで来ましたか？)"
How did you come here? / By what means did you come?
駅まで何で来ましたか？ (えきまでなんで来ましたか？)
neutral"何の用ですか？ (なんのようですか？)"
What business do you have? / What do you need?
何かご用ですか？ (なにかごようですか？)
formalLeicht verwechselbar
Many learners confuse this with 'いくつ' (how many) or 'どのくらい' (how long), but 'なんじ' specifically asks for the time of day.
'なんじ' is used for asking 'what time', specifically referring to hours. 'いくつ' is for counting discrete items, and 'どのくらい' is for duration or approximation.
今、何時ですか？ (What time is it now?)
It can be confusing because 'なん' usually means 'what', but when combined with '人' (person), it means 'how many people'. Learners might try to use 'いくつの人'.
'なんにん' is a specific counter for people when asking 'how many people'. 'いくつの' cannot be directly applied to count people in this way.
家族は何人ですか？ (How many people are in your family?)
Similar to '何人', the 'なん' part indicates 'what', but in context with '色' (color), it means 'what color'. Learners might initially try to say 'どんな色'.
'何色' is a direct way to ask 'what color'. 'どんな色' is also correct but often implies a broader descriptive question about the kind of color.
あなたの好きな色は何色ですか？ (What color is your favorite?)
This is often confused with 'いつ' (when). While 'いつ' asks for a general time, '何曜日' is very specific about the day of the week.
'何曜日' specifically asks 'what day of the week'. 'いつ' is a broader question asking 'when' something happens.
今日は何曜日ですか？ (What day of the week is it today?)
Beginners might try to use 'いくつ' (how many) to ask for age. '何歳' is the correct and polite way to ask someone's age.
'何歳' is the standard way to ask 'how old'. 'いくつ' can be used for age, but '何歳' is more common and polite when directly asking someone's age.
お兄さんは何歳ですか？ (How old is your older brother?)
Satzmuster
これはなんですか。(Kore wa nan desu ka.)
これはなんですか。 (What is this?)
それはなんですか。(Sore wa nan desu ka.)
それはなんですか。 (What is that?)
あれはなんですか。(Are wa nan desu ka.)
あれはなんですか。 (What is that over there?)
なんじですか。(Nanji desu ka.)
いま、なんじですか。 (What time is it now?)
なんさいですか。(Nansai desu ka.)
おいくつですか。/なんさいですか。(How old are you?)
なんにんいますか。(Nannin imasu ka.)
ごかぞくはなんにんいますか。(How many people are in your family?)
なんのえいがですか。(Nan no eiga desu ka.)
それはなんのえいがですか。(What kind of movie is that?)
なんのために。(Nan no tame ni.)
なんのためにがんばっていますか。 (What are you working hard for?)
Tipps
Basic use of なん
なん is a question word that asks 'what'. It's like 'what' in English, but it changes depending on the word that comes after it.
なん before certain sounds
なん is used before words that start with the sounds 'd', 'n', or 't'. For example, なん ですか (Nan desu ka) means 'What is it?'.
なに before other sounds
When the word after 'what' starts with other sounds (not d, n, t), you usually use なに (nani). For example, なに を しますか (Nani o shimasu ka) means 'What will you do?'.
Counting with なん
なん is also used when asking 'how many' or 'what number'. For example, なん じ (Nan ji) means 'What time?' and なん びき (Nan biki) means 'How many (small animals)?'.
Don't confuse なん and なに
It's a common mistake for learners to mix up なん and なに. Pay attention to the sound of the word that follows.
Practice with common phrases
Practice using なん in common phrases like なん さい ですか (Nan sai desu ka) for 'How old are you?' or なん ようび ですか (Nan youbi desu ka) for 'What day of the week is it?'.
なん for 'what kind'
You can use なん in phrases like なん の ほん (Nan no hon) to ask 'What kind of book?'. Here, の links なん to the noun.
Pronunciation is key
The pronunciation of なん is important. It's a clear 'nan', not like 'nah-n'.
なん and なに as interjections
While less common for beginners, なに can sometimes be used as an interjection like 'What?!' in surprise. なん is rarely used this way.
Listen to native speakers
The best way to get a feel for when to use なん versus なに is to listen to native Japanese speakers and observe how they use them in context.
Einprägen
Eselsbrücke
Think of 'NAN' as 'N.A.N. - Needing A Noun' (or information about a noun).
Visuelle Assoziation
Imagine a detective holding a magnifying glass, looking at something and asking 'なんですか？' (What is it?) with a big question mark above their head.
Word Web
Herausforderung
Go through your day and try to form questions using なん for various objects or situations. For example, when you see a new food, think 'これはなんですか？' (What is this?). When you hear a time, think 'なんじですか？' (What time is it?). Pay attention to when you use なん versus なに in native Japanese speech.
Wortherkunft
Old Japanese
Ursprüngliche Bedeutung: What
JaponicKultureller Kontext
In Japanese culture, direct questions using 'nan' or 'nani' are common. It's polite to answer directly, and sometimes adding 'desu ka' at the end of the question makes it more formal. Understanding the subtle difference between 'nan' and 'nani' is crucial for natural-sounding Japanese, as using the wrong one can sound awkward.
Teste dich selbst 84 Fragen
Choose the correct particle to complete the sentence: これは ___ ですか？ (Kore wa ___ desu ka?)
To ask 'What is this?', you use なん (nan).
Which word means 'what' in Japanese?
なん (nan) is used to ask 'what'.
Complete the question: それは ___ ですか？ (Sore wa ___ desu ka?)
Use なん (nan) to ask 'What is that?'.
The word 'なん' is used to ask about a person.
なん (nan) is used to ask about things, not people. For people, you would use だれ (dare).
You can use 'なん' to ask 'What time is it?'.
Yes, 'なんじ (nan ji)' means 'what time'.
In the sentence 'これはペンですか？' (Kore wa pen desu ka?), 'なん' can replace 'ペン'.
Yes, 'これはなんですか？' (Kore wa nan desu ka?) means 'What is this?', where 'なん' replaces the object 'ペン'.
Write a short sentence asking 'What is this?' in Japanese. Use the word 'なん'.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
これはなんですか。
Write a question asking 'What is your name?' in Japanese. Use 'なん'.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
おなまえはなんですか。
You want to ask someone 'What time is it?' in Japanese. Write the question.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
いま、なんじですか。
What is A asking about?
Read this passage:
A: これはなんですか。 B: それはほんです。
What is A asking about?
A asks 'What is this?' and B replies 'That is a book.'
A asks 'What is this?' and B replies 'That is a book.'
What does Tanaka-san want to know?
Read this passage:
田中さん: おなまえはなんですか。 山田さん: わたしは山田です。
What does Tanaka-san want to know?
Tanaka-san asks 'What is your name?' and Yamada-san replies 'My name is Yamada.'
Tanaka-san asks 'What is your name?' and Yamada-san replies 'My name is Yamada.'
On the shopping list, what does 'なんですか？' indicate?
Read this passage:
かいものリスト： - パン - なんですか？ - ミルク
On the shopping list, what does 'なんですか？' indicate?
'なんですか？' means 'What is it?' or 'What is this?', implying a question about a specific item on the list.
'なんですか？' means 'What is it?' or 'What is this?', implying a question about a specific item on the list.
This sentence asks 'What is this?'. 'これ' (kore) means 'this', 'は' (wa) is a topic particle, '何' (nan) means 'what', 'です' (desu) is a polite copula, and 'か' (ka) is a question particle.
This sentence asks 'What time is it?'. '何' (nan) means 'what', '時' (ji) means 'time', 'です' (desu) is a polite copula, and 'か' (ka) is a question particle.
This sentence asks 'What is that (over there)?'. 'あれ' (are) means 'that (over there)', 'は' (wa) is a topic particle, '何' (nan) means 'what', 'です' (desu) is a polite copula, and 'か' (ka) is a question particle.
Someone is asking what an object is.
Someone is asking for a name.
Someone is asking what was done on the weekend.
Read this aloud:
これはなんですか。
Focus: なん
Du hast gesagt:
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Read this aloud:
お誕生日はなん月ですか。
Focus: なん月
Du hast gesagt:
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Read this aloud:
趣味はなんですか。
Focus: なん
Du hast gesagt:
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Write a short sentence asking 'What is this?' using なん (nan).
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
これはなんですか。
Write a question asking 'What kind of food?' using なん (nan).
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
なんのたべものですか。
Write a question asking 'What time is it now?' using なん (nan).
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
いまなんじですか。
What is B's answer?
Read this passage:
A: これはなんですか。 B: それはほんです。
What is B's answer?
B says 'それはほんです。' which means 'That is a book.'
B says 'それはほんです。' which means 'That is a book.'
What does A ask about?
Read this passage:
A: なんのスポーツがすきですか。 B: サッカーがすきです。
What does A ask about?
A asks 'なんのスポーツがすきですか。' which means 'What kind of sport do you like?'
A asks 'なんのスポーツがすきですか。' which means 'What kind of sport do you like?'
What day of the week is it today?
Read this passage:
A: きょうはなんようびですか。 B: きんようびです。
What day of the week is it today?
B says 'きんようびです。' which means 'It's Friday.'
B says 'きんようびです。' which means 'It's Friday.'
This sentence asks 'What is this?'. 'これ' (kore) means 'this', 'は' (wa) is a topic particle, 'なん' (nan) means 'what', 'です' (desu) is a polite copula, and 'か' (ka) is a question particle.
This sentence asks 'What is your name?'. 'あなたの' (anata no) means 'your', '名前' (namae) means 'name', 'は' (wa) is a topic particle, 'なん' (nan) means 'what', 'です' (desu) is a polite copula, and 'か' (ka) is a question particle.
This sentence asks 'What kind of book is that?'. 'それ' (sore) means 'that', 'は' (wa) is a topic particle, 'なん' (nan) means 'what', 'の' (no) is a possessive particle, '本' (hon) means 'book', 'です' (desu) is a polite copula, and 'か' (ka) is a question particle.
Choose the most appropriate word to complete the sentence: これは __ ですか？ (Kore wa __ desu ka?)
The sentence asks 'What is this?', making 'なん' (what) the correct choice.
Choose the most appropriate word to complete the sentence: 彼の名前は __ ですか？ (Kare no namae wa __ desu ka?)
The sentence asks 'What is his name?', making 'なん' (what) the correct choice.
Choose the most appropriate word to complete the sentence: __ の本を読んでいますか？ ( __ no hon o yonde imasu ka?)
The sentence asks 'What kind of book are you reading?' or 'What book are you reading?', making 'なん' (what) the correct choice when referring to the type or specific item.
You can use 'なん' to ask about someone's age.
You can say 'おいくつですか？' (oikutsu desu ka?) or more casually 'なんさいですか？' (nansai desu ka?) to ask 'How old are you?'. 'なん' is used in 'なんさい'.
When asking 'What time is it?', you should use 'なん' (nan).
The correct way to ask 'What time is it?' is 'なんじですか？' (nanji desu ka?), which uses 'なん'.
It is always appropriate to use 'なん' when asking about a person's identity.
While 'なん' can be used in some contexts related to a person (e.g., 'なんというお名前ですか?' - What is your name?), generally 'だれ' (dare - who) is used to ask about a person's identity directly.
今日の夕食は___にしますか？ (What will you have for dinner tonight?)
「なに」 is the correct interrogative pronoun here, asking 'what' for dinner. 「どこ」 (where), 「だれ」 (who), and 「いつ」 (when) do not fit the context.
その本は___について書かれていますか？ (What is that book written about?)
To ask 'what' a book is about, 「なに」 is the appropriate choice. 「どれ」 (which), 「どんな」 (what kind of), and 「どう」 (how) don't make sense in this context.
週末は___をしましたか？ (What did you do on the weekend?)
Here, you're asking 'what' activity was done, so 「なに」 is correct. 「どうして」 (why), 「いくら」 (how much), and 「なぜ」 (why) are not suitable.
パーティーには___を持っていきましょうか？ (What should I bring to the party?)
To ask 'what' to bring, 「なにを」 is the right form. 「だれが」 (who), 「いつ」 (when), and 「どこで」 (where) don't fit the question.
このマークは___を意味しますか？ (What does this mark mean?)
To ask 'what' something means, 「なにを」 is used. 「なぜ」 (why), 「どのくらい」 (how much/long), and 「どれ」 (which) are incorrect.
彼の言ったことは___だったの？ (What was it that he said?)
In this casual question asking 'what' was said, 「なに」 is the appropriate choice. The other options don't fit the meaning.
Someone asks why you are there.
Someone asks about the type of food.
Someone asks what's for dinner.
Read this aloud:
何時に出発しますか？
Focus: なんじ
Du hast gesagt:
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Read this aloud:
それは何と読みますか？
Focus: なんと
Du hast gesagt:
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Read this aloud:
あなたの趣味は何ですか？
Focus: なんですか
Du hast gesagt:
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Imagine you're at a Japanese festival. Describe what kind of food you'd like to try, what games you'd play, and what souvenirs you'd buy. Use 'なん' to ask at least two questions within your description. (e.g., なんの食べ物が食べたいですか？)
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
お祭りで、なんの食べ物を試してみたいですか？たこ焼きとなんの飲み物が飲みたいです。金魚すくいのようなゲームもしてみたいです。お土産に、なんの面白いものが買えますか？手ぬぐいを買いたいです。
You are planning a trip to a new city in Japan. Write an email to a friend asking for recommendations. Include questions using 'なん' about places to visit, local cuisine, and activities to do. Make sure your tone is friendly and conversational.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
やあ、[友達の名前]！元気？今度、京都に旅行に行く予定なんだけど、なんの観光地がおすすめ？なんの美味しいローカル料理があるか教えてくれる？それから、なんの面白い活動ができるかな？もし何か知っていたら教えてね！
You are helping a new international student settle in Japan. Write a short guide for them, including practical advice and questions they might need to ask using 'なん'. For example, questions about transportation, shopping, or daily life. Focus on clarity and helpfulness.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
日本での生活へようこそ！もし何か困ったことがあったら、遠慮なく質問してくださいね。例えば、電車の乗り方でなんの路線を使えばいいですか？とか、スーパーでなんの食材が手に入りますか？など。なんの困っていることがあれば、いつでも聞いてください。
佐藤さんはなんの目的でイケアに行きましたか？
Read this passage:
佐藤さんは先週、新しいアパートに引っ越しました。新しい家具を買う必要があり、週末にイケアに行きました。たくさんの選択肢があって、なんのソファにするか迷いましたが、結局、シンプルで快適なものを選びました。また、キッチン用品もいくつか購入しました。
佐藤さんはなんの目的でイケアに行きましたか？
パッセージに「新しい家具を買う必要があり、週末にイケアに行きました」と書かれています。
パッセージに「新しい家具を買う必要があり、週末にイケアに行きました」と書かれています。
山本さんが特に興味を持っている日本の伝統文化はなんですか？
Read this passage:
山本さんは最近、日本の伝統文化に興味を持っています。特に茶道に惹かれており、なんの流派があるのか、そしてなんの道具が必要なのかを調べています。来月には、体験クラスに参加する予定です。
山本さんが特に興味を持っている日本の伝統文化はなんですか？
パッセージに「特に茶道に惹かれており」と書かれています。
パッセージに「特に茶道に惹かれており」と書かれています。
田中さんと友人は最終的にどんなジャンルの映画を見ましたか？
Read this passage:
田中さんは週末に友人と映画を見に行きました。なんのジャンルを見るかで少し意見が分かれましたが、最終的にはSF映画に決定しました。映画はとても面白く、二人とも満足して帰りました。映画の後には、なんのカフェでコーヒーを飲んだのか、忘れてしまいましたが、楽しい一日でした。
田中さんと友人は最終的にどんなジャンルの映画を見ましたか？
パッセージに「最終的にはSF映画に決定しました」と書かれています。
パッセージに「最終的にはSF映画に決定しました」と書かれています。
This asks 'What is the book you read?'
This asks 'What is your favorite food?'
This asks 'What are your plans for the weekend?'
この複雑なパズルの鍵となる「なん」は何だと思いますか？
文脈から、パズルを解くための「鍵」となるものを尋ねているので、「手がかり」が最も適切です。
彼の突然の辞職の「なん」という噂が広まっているのですか？
辞職の背景にあるものを尋ねているため、「理由」が最も適切です。
このプロジェクトを成功させるために、我々が「なん」に焦点を当てるべきでしょうか？
プロジェクト成功のために最も重要な点に焦点を当てるべきなので、「主要な課題」が適切です。
「なん」は、ある状況における予期せぬ結果について尋ねる際に使用されます。
「なん」は、原因や理由、特定の状況で何が起こったかなど、予期せぬ結果を含む幅広い事柄について尋ねる際に使われます。
「なん」は、具体的な物理的対象物のみを指して質問する際に使われます。
「なん」は物理的対象物だけでなく、概念、理由、状況、情報など、抽象的な事柄についても幅広く尋ねる際に使用されます。
「なん」は、肯定的な文脈でのみ使用され、否定的な状況では使われません。
「なん」は、肯定的な文脈でも否定的な文脈でも、質問の内容に応じて使用されます。
この複雑なパズルを解くには、一体___が必要だと思いますか？ (What do you think is absolutely necessary to solve this complex puzzle?)
「なに」は「なん」と同じで、「何」と書かれ、物事を問うときに使われます。この文脈では「何が必要か」と尋ねています。
長年の研究を経て、ついに彼は宇宙の起源に関する___な結論を導き出した。(After many years of research, he finally drew a ___ conclusion regarding the origin of the universe.)
「なんたる」は感動や驚きを表す際に使われ、この文脈では「なんたる結論」という形で、その結論の驚くべき性質を示します。
その企業の戦略は非常に大胆で、競合他社は___を企んでいるのか、全く予想できない。(The company's strategy is so bold that competitors can't predict at all ___ they are plotting.)
「なんのために」は目的を問う際に使われます。この文脈では、競合他社が何を目的として企んでいるのかが不明であることを示します。
哲学的な議論において、存在の意味を問うことは、___の根本的な問いである。(In philosophical discussions, questioning the meaning of existence is a fundamental question of ___.)
「なんぞや」は古語的表現で、「何であるか」という意味合いで、より深い問いかけや本質を問う際に用いられます。この文脈では存在の根本的な問いにふさわしい表現です。
量子物理学の分野では、観測者効果が___な影響を与えるのか、未だに解明されていない。(In the field of quantum physics, it has not yet been clarified ___ of an influence the observer effect has.)
「どれだけ」は量や程度を問う際に使われます。ここでは観測者効果が「どれだけの」影響を与えるのかを尋ねています。
この複雑な国際情勢において、外交官は___な解決策を見つけるために日夜努力している。(In this complex international situation, diplomats are working day and night to find ___ solutions.)
「いかなる」は「どのような種類の」や「どんな」という意味で、特にフォーマルな文脈で使われます。ここでは「いかなる解決策」という形で、様々な可能性のある解決策を模索していることを示します。
This sentence expresses surprise or disbelief: 'That he is so angry...' The 'なんて' here functions to emphasize the speaker's feeling about the preceding statement.
'I can't believe that I passed the exam.' Here, 'なんて' conveys a sense of strong emotion, similar to 'なんていうことだ' (what a thing!).
'Is the rumor that he resigned true?' In this context, 'なんて' clarifies that the preceding clause is the content of the rumor.
/ 84 correct
Perfect score!
Summary
なん (nan) is your go-to word for asking 'what' in Japanese, but remember its variant なに (nani).
- Use to ask 'what'.
- Often precedes nouns or です/だ.
- Changes to なに (nani) in some contexts.
Basic use of なん
なん is a question word that asks 'what'. It's like 'what' in English, but it changes depending on the word that comes after it.
なん before certain sounds
なん is used before words that start with the sounds 'd', 'n', or 't'. For example, なん ですか (Nan desu ka) means 'What is it?'.
なに before other sounds
When the word after 'what' starts with other sounds (not d, n, t), you usually use なに (nani). For example, なに を しますか (Nani o shimasu ka) means 'What will you do?'.
Counting with なん
なん is also used when asking 'how many' or 'what number'. For example, なん じ (Nan ji) means 'What time?' and なん びき (Nan biki) means 'How many (small animals)?'.
Beispiel
これはなんですか。
Verwandte Inhalte
Verwandte Redewendungen
Mehr general Wörter
いくつか
B1An unspecified small number of things; some, a few.
ちょっと
A2A little; a moment; a bit. Small amount or short time.
すこし
A2A little; a few.
さっき
A2A little while ago; a short time past.
能力
A1Nouryoku refers to the mental or physical power, skill, or capacity required to perform a specific task or function. It can describe both innate talent and skills acquired through learning and practice.
異常
A1A word used to describe something that deviates from the normal state, standard, or expected pattern. It often implies a problem, malfunction, or an extraordinary occurrence that requires attention or investigation.
～について
A2About, concerning; indicates topic.
〜について
B1About, concerning; on the subject of.
～ぐらい
A2about, approximately
ぐらい
A2About; approximately; to the extent of.
