Translation guide
The English word 'what' is used in questions, as a relative pronoun, and in exclamations. Japanese expresses these functions through different question words, particles, and sentence patterns. The most common equivalent is 何 (なに/なん), but its reading and usage depend on context. This guide covers how to ask 'what' questions, use 'what' in embedded clauses, and express surprise or emphasis.
What is this?
What do you want?
What happened?
The speaker wants to ask for information about something, equivalent to 'what' in English questions.
The basic word for 'what'. Used before particles like が, を, に, で, etc. Pronounced なに in most cases.
What is this?
What will you eat?
Used before です, だ, and counters (e.g., 何時, 何枚). Also in the phrase 何で (why/by what means).
Asks 'what kind of' or 'what' when followed by a noun. 何の means 'of what'.
What book is it? (What kind of book?)
Asks 'how many' or 'what' with counters. 何 is read as なん before counters.
How many sheets do you need?
The speaker wants to express 'what' inside a larger sentence, like 'I don't know what to do'.
Means 'something' or 'what' in embedded questions. 何か can be used as 'what' in indirect questions when followed by a verb.
The speaker wants to refer to a thing or idea previously mentioned, like 'what I want' or 'what happened'.
The most common way to express 'what' as a relative pronoun. こと nominalizes the verb phrase, meaning 'the thing that'.
The speaker wants to express surprise, admiration, or strong emotion, like 'What a beautiful view!'
Expresses 'What a ...!' in an emotional way. なんて adds a sense of surprise or admiration.
The speaker wants to use common expressions like 'What's up?', 'What about you?', or 'What do you mean?'
Casual 'What's wrong?' or 'What happened?'. Used when someone seems upset or something seems off.
In many common expressions, 'what' is not directly translated as 何. For example, 'What's your name?' is お名前は？ (おなまえは？), not 何の名前ですか. Learn set phrases instead of literal translations.
What is your job? (lit. 'What is your work?')
何 asks for identification or a specific answer, while asks for description or type. 'What kind of book?' can be () or (). asks for the content or title, asks for the genre or impression.
What is that?
What time is it?
Have you decided what to buy?
Standard way to embed a 'what' question. The question word 何 is followed by the appropriate particle and verb, then か.
I don't remember what he said.
What I want is this.
What he said is true.
Similar to こと, but もの emphasizes a tangible object or a more concrete thing. Often used for 'what' in a physical sense.
Is there something to eat? (lit. 'Is there what to eat?')
Casual equivalent of こと or もの. Used in informal speech to mean 'the thing that'.
What I want is this.
What a beautiful view!
More formal or literary version of なんて. Often used in writing or formal speech.
What a wonderful day!
What's wrong? You look down.
Means 'And you?' or 'What about you?'. Often used after answering a question.
I'm fine. What about you?
Casual 'What do you mean?'. Used to ask for clarification.
What do you mean? I don't understand.
What book is it? (What is it about?)
What kind of book is it? (Is it interesting?)