JLPT N5 grammar · Conjunctions & Questions
何 (なん/なに): meaning, usage and examples
何 (なん/なに) means: what.
How to form it
なに (before consonants) / なん (before T/D sounds and counters)
Examples
週末は、何をしますか。
What do you plan to do this weekend?
あれは何ですか。
What is that?
今、何時ですか。
What time is it now?
何を飲みますか。
What will you drink?
When to use it
Asks 'what'. Use なん before です, counters, and T/D sounds; なに before particles and most verbs.
Nuance
なん is a phonological variant, not a different word. The choice is determined by the following sound.
Compare
何 (なに/なん): what. どれ: which one. どんな: what kind of.
Tip: 何時 (なんじ) = what time? Use なん before counters: 何枚 (なんまい), 何冊 (なんさつ).
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...)
- どんな [Noun]: what kind of [Noun]?
- どうですか: how about, how... (asking for an opinion or impression)
- 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 何 (なん/なに) mean?
What. Example: 週末は、何をしますか。 (What do you plan to do this weekend?)
How do you form 何 (なん/なに)?
なに (before consonants) / なん (before T/D sounds and counters). 何時 (なんじ) = what time? Use なん before counters: 何枚 (なんまい), 何冊 (なんさつ).