JLPT N5 Vocabulary
何
【なに / なん】
(nani / nan)
Definition: 意味
what
- An interrogative pronoun used to ask for information about something or to identify something.
- Has two main readings: なに (nani) and なん (nan).
- なに (nani) is generally used when followed by particles such as を (o), が (ga), も (mo), に (ni), か (ka), or when it stands alone.
- なん (nan) is typically used when followed by classifiers (e.g., 何時 – nanji, 何人 – nannin), the copula です (desu), or the particle と (to).
- Understanding which reading to use is crucial for natural Japanese communication.
なに / なん – Example Sentences 例文
Example #1
これは何ですか?
Furigana: これはなんですか?
Romaji: Kore wa nan desu ka?
English: What is this?
Example #2
何を食べますか?
Furigana: なにをたべますか?
Romaji: Nani o tabemasu ka?
English: What will you eat?
Example #3
今日は何曜日ですか?
Furigana: きょうはなんようびですか?
Romaji: Kyou wa nan’youbi desu ka?
English: What day of the week is today?
Example #4
あなたの趣味は何ですか?
Furigana: あなたのしゅみはなんですか?
Romaji: Anata no shumi wa nan desu ka?
English: What is your hobby?
Example #5
何時に家を出ますか?
Furigana: なんじにいえをでますか?
Romaji: Nanji ni ie o demasu ka?
English: What time do you leave home?
Example #6
何が欲しいですか?
Furigana: なにがほしいですか?
Romaji: Nani ga hoshii desu ka?
English: What do you want?
Example #7
それは何色ですか?
Furigana: それはなにいですか?
Romaji: Sore wa nan’iro desu ka?
English: What color is that?
Example #8
何を勉強していますか?
Furigana: なにをべんきょうしていますか?
Romaji: Nani o benkyou shite imasu ka?
English: What are you studying?
Example #9
あそこに何がありますか?
Furigana: あそこになにがありますか?
Romaji: Asoko ni nani ga arimasu ka?
English: What is over there?
Example #10
この漢字は何と読みますか?
Furigana: このかんじはなんとよみますか?
Romaji: Kono kanji wa nan to yomimasu ka?
English: How do you read this kanji?

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