JLPT N5 grammar · Conjunctions & Questions
どんな [Noun]: meaning, usage and examples
どんな [Noun] means: what kind of [Noun]?
How to form it
どんな + ＜Noun＞
Examples
どんな映画が好きですか。
What kind of movies do you like?
どんな食べ物が好きですか。
What kind of food do you like?
田中さんはどんな人ですか。
What kind of person is Mr. Tanaka?
どんな音楽をよく聞きますか。
What kind of music do you often listen to?
When to use it
Asks about the type or quality of something: 'What kind of...?'
Nuance
どんな focuses on characteristics/type. どの is about selecting from a known group.
Compare
どんな人 (what kind of person?). どの人 (which person: from these options?).
Tip: Answers to どんな use adjectives: 親切な人 / 大きい部屋.
More in Conjunctions & Questions
- [Person/Animal] と: with [Person/Animal]
- [Noun] と [Noun]: [Noun] and [Noun] (a complete list)
- ~や~: things like... and... (an incomplete list)
- [Noun] の [Noun]: (particle indicating possession or modification)
- が/けど: but... (conjunction)
- ~から: because... (reason)
- 〜とき: when… (at the time of...)
- どうですか: how about, how... (asking for an opinion or impression)
- 何 (なん/なに): what
- どこ(へ/に)も/何も/だれも + (Negative): not…anywhere / not...anything / no one
- どこか/何か/だれか/いつか: somewhere/something/someone/sometime
Frequently asked questions
What does どんな [Noun] mean?
What kind of [Noun]?. Example: どんな映画が好きですか。 (What kind of movies do you like?)
How do you form どんな [Noun]?
どんな + ＜Noun＞. Answers to どんな use adjectives: 親切な人 / 大きい部屋.