JLPT N5 Kanji – Is “何” read “なん” or “なに”
Table of Contents
1. Rules for reading the kanji “何”
2. When it’s read as “なん”
3. When it’s read as “なに”
4. When both are acceptable
5. Summary
6. Quiz
7. Similar Articles
8. Comment
Q: Are there any rules for when to read “何” as “なん” and when to read it as “なに”?
A: Yes, there are. Let’s look at each one.
When it’s read as “なん”
1. When “ですか” is attached at the end
[Example]
これは何ですか。
What is this?
2. When particles “と” and “の” are attached at the end
[Examples]
先生は何と言っていましたか？
What was the teacher saying?
それは何の本ですか？
What book is that?
3. When asking about a number or day of the week
[Examples]
何回
How many times?
何本
How many long objects?
何人
How many people?
何曜日
What day of the week?
4. When asking “Why?”
[Example]
何で？ =why?
何でパーティーに来なかったんですか？
Why didn’t you come to the party?
When it’s read as “なに”
1. When particles “が” “も” “を” are attached at the end
[Examples]
スポーツは何が好きですか。
What sports do you like?
スーパーで何を買いましたか。
What did you buy at the supermarket?
朝ごはんは何も食べませんでした。
I didn’t eat anything for breakfast.
2.When asking about types
[Examples]
何色
What colour?
何線
What kind of line (of the train or the busses)?
3. When asking “How/By what”
[Examples]
何で＝By what
会社まで何で来ていますか？
How are you getting to the office?
When both are acceptable
In casual situations or spoken language, “なん” is pronounced, while in formal situations or written language, “なに” is pronounced.
[Example 1]
「何か」= Something
Casual：なんか
Formal：なにか
何か食べる？
Would you like something to eat?
何か召し上がりますか？
Is there anything you’d like to have?
[Example 2]
「何も」= Nothing
Casual：なんも
Formal：なにも
朝から何も食べてないんだよね。
I haven’t eaten anything since morning.
朝から何も食べていません。
I haven’t eaten anything since morning.
Summary
[When it’s read as “なん”]
- When “ですか” is attached at the end.
- When particles “と” and “の” are attached at the end.
- When asking about a number or day of the week.
- When asking “Why?”.
[When it’s read as “なに”]
- When particles “が” “も” “を” are attached at the end.
- When asking about a type.
- When asking about a method or means.
Quiz
How do you pronounce “何” in the following sentence?
Click on the question to check the answer.
A. なに
何を食べるか決められません。
I can’t decide what to eat.
*”なに” is correct because it is followed by the particle を.
A. なん
ゆみさんは何の話をしているんですか。
What is Yumi talking about?
*”なん” is correct because it is followed by the particle の.
A. なに
ここまで何で来ましたか。
How did you get here?
*”なに” is correct because it is asking about the method.
A. なん
何でそんなことを言うんですか。
Why are you saying such a thing?
*”なん” is correct because it is asking ‘why’ (as in ‘どうして’).
