Let’s look at the interrogative word “何” ☺︎
It has two readings: なに and なん.
① なに + particle
Let’s look at the rule for なに.
The first point is that the reading なに is followed by a particle. For example:
今夜は何を食べますか?
What will you eat tonight?
旅行中、何が一番楽しかったですか?
What did you enjoy most during your trip?
会社までいつも何で行っていますか?
What do you always use to get to your office? (How do you get to your office?)
飲み物は何にしますか?
What would you like to drink?
何かいい案はありますか? ※ Sometimes it can be “なんか” in a casual occasion: 何かいい案ある?
Do you have any suggestions?
② なに modifies a noun
The second point is なに is used when modifying a noun. For example:
何語
それは何語ですか?
What language is it?
何色
何色が好きですか?
What colour do you like?
③ なん + ですか
Let’s move on to the reading なん.
なん goes together with ですか when asking a questions politely. For example:
好きな食べ物は何ですか?
What is your favourite food?
それは何ですか?
What is that?
③ なん describes the number (quantity)
Another point is なん is used to describe the number of the targeted noun. For example:
何人
– 何人家族ですか?
How many people are in your family?
何階
– カメラは何階にありますか?
Which floor can I find cameras?
How to answer the questions with 何
Questions with 何 can be answered with です as a substitute of a verb. What does it by it?
Q: いつも朝ごはんに何を食べますか?
What do you usually eat for breakfast?
A: 朝はいつもコーヒーだけです。(朝はいつもコーヒーだけを飲みます。)
I always just drink coffee.
Q: 今夜は何をしますか?
What are you doing tonight?
A: 料理と洗濯です。(料理と洗濯をします。)
I will cook and do the laundry.
Q: クラスに何人いますか?
How many people are in your class?
A: 20人です。(20人います。)
There are 20 people.
Q: この服は何色ありますか?
How many colours are available for this piece of clothing?
A: 4色です。(4色あります。)
There are 4 colours.
Common words with 何
Here is a small list of commonly used words with なに and なん.
なに | なん |
何人(なにじん) What nationality | 何人(なんにん) How many people |
何色(なにいろ) What colour | 何色(なんしょく) How many colours |
何科(なにか) What course | 何個(なんこ) How many things |
何大学(なにだいがく) What university | 何歳(なんさい) How old (age) |
何県(なにけん) What prefecture | 何ヶ月(なんかげつ) How many months |
何語(なにご) What language | 何年(なんねん) How many years |
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