How to Say ‘What is it?’ in Japanese
何かしら？
nani kashira
[nani kashira]
💬 Usage Tip: かしら is a soft, wondering "I wonder" ending heard mostly from older women. It's like かな with a gentler, more traditional feel.
Phrase Breakdown
何
nani
[nani]
What
An interrogative used to ask about information.
何かしらがテーブルにあった。
There was something on the table.
かしら
kashira
[kashira]
wonder
A suffix implying uncertainty or curiosity.
それは何かしら？
I wonder what that is?
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