A2 Expression ニュートラル

അതെന്താണ്?

അതനതണ

What is that?

意味

Asking for identification of an object or situation.

🌍

文化的背景

Asking 'Athenthaanu?' about a neighbor's new possession is considered friendly interest, not prying. In local markets, this phrase is essential for identifying the vast array of tubers and spices. Sometimes people avoid asking 'Athenthaanu?' directly about a newborn baby to avoid 'Drishti' (evil eye), preferring indirect praise. Malayalis use this phrase rhetorically in political discussions to question the validity of a claim.

💡

The Pointing Rule

Always use 'Athenthaanu' when your arm is extended to point at something.

⚠️

Don't Objectify

Never use this for people; it's considered very rude.

意味

Asking for identification of an object or situation.

💡

The Pointing Rule

Always use 'Athenthaanu' when your arm is extended to point at something.

⚠️

Don't Objectify

Never use this for people; it's considered very rude.

🎯

The 'Why' Trap

Be careful with the short form 'Athentha', as it usually means 'Why' in response to a statement.

自分をテスト

Choose the correct phrase to ask about a bird flying far away.

ആകാശത്ത് ഒരു പക്ഷി. ____?

✓ 正解! ✗ おしい! 正解: അതെന്താണ്?

Since the bird is far away (distal), 'Athenthaanu' is the correct choice.

Complete the sentence with the correct joined form of 'Atu + Entu + Aanu'.

അമ്മേ, ആ ശബ്ദം ________?

✓ 正解! ✗ おしい! 正解: അതെന്താണ്

The joined form 'Athenthaanu' is the standard way to ask this.

Match the phrase to the situation.

Situation: You see a strange fruit in a shop across the street.

✓ 正解! ✗ おしい! 正解: അതെന്താണ്?

The fruit is across the street, so it is distal.

Complete the dialogue.

A: നോക്കൂ! അവിടെ ഒരു വെളിച്ചം. B: ________?

✓ 正解! ✗ おしい! 正解: അതെന്താണ്

B is asking about the light (inanimate) mentioned by A.

🎉 スコア: /4

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練習問題バンク

4 問題
Choose the correct phrase to ask about a bird flying far away. Choose A1

ആകാശത്ത് ഒരു പക്ഷി. ____?

✓ 正解! ✗ おしい! 正解: അതെന്താണ്?

Since the bird is far away (distal), 'Athenthaanu' is the correct choice.

Complete the sentence with the correct joined form of 'Atu + Entu + Aanu'. Fill Blank A2

അമ്മേ, ആ ശബ്ദം ________?

✓ 正解! ✗ おしい! 正解: അതെന്താണ്

The joined form 'Athenthaanu' is the standard way to ask this.

Match the phrase to the situation. situation_matching A2

Situation: You see a strange fruit in a shop across the street.

✓ 正解! ✗ おしい! 正解: അതെന്താണ്?

The fruit is across the street, so it is distal.

Complete the dialogue. dialogue_completion B1

A: നോക്കൂ! അവിടെ ഒരു വെളിച്ചം. B: ________?

✓ 正解! ✗ おしい! 正解: അതെന്താണ്

B is asking about the light (inanimate) mentioned by A.

🎉 スコア: /4

よくある質問

10 問

Yes, for animals, 'Entu' (what) is acceptable, though 'Athaaranu' (who/which one) can be used for pets.

'Athenthaanu' is the full, neutral form. 'Athentha' is informal and often means 'Why?'.

Yes, it is a perfectly neutral and polite way to ask for information.

Use the past tense: 'Atu enthaayirunnu?' (അത് എന്തായിരുന്നു?).

Yes! 'അതെന്താണ് ആ മണം?' (What is that smell?) is very common.

Yes, for multiple things, use 'അവ എന്താണ്?' (Ava enthaanu?).

Because of Sandhi rules, the words merge phonetically to make speech faster and smoother.

Yes, but in formal writing, you might prefer 'അത് എന്താണെന്ന് വിശദീകരിക്കാമോ?' (Can you explain what that is?).

Usually, 'Athenthaanu' is safer until you are sure it's a person.

No, 'Atu' and 'Entu' are gender-neutral for all inanimate objects.

関連フレーズ

🔗

ഇതെന്താണ്?

contrast

What is this?

🔗

അതാരാണ്?

similar

Who is that?

🔗

എന്താണ്?

builds on

What is it?

🔗

അതെന്താ?

specialized form

Why? / What is that?

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