How to Say ‘What’ in Japanese
何
nani
[nah-nee]
💬 Usage Tip: 何 changes reading depending on what follows; before ですか here it's なん, as in 何ですか. Compare 何人 and 何時, where the reading is different again.
Phrase Breakdown
何
nani
[nah-nee]
what
何 asks for information and is often read なに or なん depending on what follows.
何を食べますか。
What will you eat?
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