When 何 is なに and when it is なん

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One of the most useful questions words is なに or なん.

Both are pronunciations of the kanji 何 and both mean "what". So, how do you know which pronunciation to use?

■ Quick and Dirty Tip for なん: 

Pronounce 何(なん) as なん if it comes before counters and any word beginning with T, D, or N (Hence the “That Darn Nan”). For the most part, everything else is pronounced なに. If this sounds too complicated to bother with it, just learn examples and you'll eventually get it.  

Examples:

何(なん)ですか？

What is it?

[It is なん because it is before a "D" sound.]

英語(えいご)では、何(なん)というのですか？

How do you say that in English?              

[It is なん because it is before a "T" sound.]

This is a good rule, but here are a few other "なん rules" that come into play.

■ なん: Pronounce 何(なん) as なん before counters and when asking the day of the week.

何回(なんかい)

how many times [Before a counter.]

何枚(なんまい)

how many pages (of paper) [Before a counter.]

何時(なんじ)

what time [Before a counter (時(じ) is the counter for time)]

何曜日(なんようび)

what day of the week [The exception before a noun.]

In general, なん is easier to pronounce than なに before certain sounds due to phonetic ease.

■ なに

Pronounce 何(なに) as なに if it is by itself or before a particle (except で which would be 何(なん)で). Also pronounce it as なに if before a noun (except when asking what day of the week).

何(なに)？！

What?! [By itself.]

何(なに)が好(す)きですか。

What do you like? [Before a particle.]

何(なに)色(いろ)が好(す)きですか。

What color do you like? [Before a noun that doesn’t begin with a T, D, or N.]

何(なに)もほしくないです。

(I) don't want anything. [Before a particle.]

While these rules will get you most of the way, you will encounter exceptions and variations, especially in less formal speech or regional dialects.

Other Forms:

何(なに)も

nothing; not any [Takes a negative verb.]

何(なに)も分(わ)かりません。I don't understand anything.

何(なに)か

something

何(なに)か飲(の)みますか？ Would you like something to drink?

何(なん)でも

anything; whatever; any

何(なん)でもいいです。Anything is fine.

何(なん)で

Why? What for?

 何(なん)で来(こ)なかったの？ Why didn't you come?

VOCABULARY:

• 何(なん) what 　
• です be; is
• か (question marker)
• 英語(えいご)では in English [英語(えいご) (English (language)); で (in); は (adds emphasis)]
• 何(なん)という how do (you) say; what [何(なん) (what); という (called; named; that says)]
• のですか (question marker) [gives more emphasis on the wh-question and is used to request a clearer or more precise answer]
• 何(なに) what
• が (expresses the subject of the predicate)
• 好(す)き liking; being fond of; to one's liking; to one's taste; preferred; favourite
• 何(なに)色(いろ) what color
• 何(なに)もほしくない (I) don't want anything [何(なに)も ((not) anything; (nothing) at all; (not) any); ほしくない (don't want; plain negative form of ほしい (wanting (to have); desiring))]
• 分(わ)かりません (I) don't understand [polite negative form of 分(わ)かる (to understand; to comprehend; to grasp)]
• 何(なに)か something; some; any
• 飲(の)みます to drink [ます-form is the polite form of Japanese verbs]
• 何(なん)でもいい anything is fine; it doesn't matter what [an expression; 何(なん)でも (any; anything; whatever); いい (good; fine)]
• 来(こ)なかった didn't come [plain negative past form of 来(く)る (to come)]
• の (question marker)

Practice Exercises

Finally, take a short quiz to see if you can separate these core counters.