Translation guide
Asking about the type, category, or characteristics of something. Japanese uses different question words depending on whether you expect a specific name, a general description, or a choice from a set.
What kind of music do you like?
What kind of person is he?
You want to know the exact kind, brand, or category of something, often expecting a noun answer.
The most common and versatile way to ask 'what kind of N'. It asks for a description or type, and the answer can be a noun or an adjective. Casual and widely used.
What kind of music do you like?
What kind of car did you buy?
Similar to どんな, but slightly more formal or emphatic. Often used when asking for a definition or explanation of the nature of something.
What kind of meaning is that? / What do you mean?
Literally 'what N', used when asking for a specific category or purpose. Often expects a more concrete answer than どんな.
What kind of book are you reading? (e.g., novel, textbook)
You want to know the qualities, appearance, or nature of something, often expecting an adjective or descriptive phrase.
Again, どんな is the go-to pattern. It naturally elicits descriptive answers.
What kind of person is he/she?
You are asking someone to pick one type from a known or implied set of options.
Means 'which N' and is used when the options are understood from context. Not exactly 'what kind of', but often translates that way when the set is implied.
What kind of color do you like? (from these options)
You want to ask 'what kind?' without repeating the noun, often in response to a statement.
Casual contraction of どんなもの/こと. Used when the topic is already known.
どんな asks for a description or type (e.g., 'a fun person', 'a sports car'). 何の asks for a specific category or purpose (e.g., 'a history book', 'Italian food'). Use どんな when you want an adjective-like answer, 何の when you expect a noun category.
What kind of book? → An interesting book.
What kind of work do you do?
何の料理が得意ですか。
What kind of cuisine are you good at?
どんな天気でしたか。
What kind of weather was it?
Formal equivalent of どんな. Used in writing, speeches, or polite conversation.
What kind of business do you have? (formal)
What kind of sizes do you have?
Standalone 'which one'. Use when the noun is already clear from context.
What kind do you like best? (pointing at items)
A: I bought a new car. B: What kind?
Means 'what do you mean?' or 'what kind of thing are you talking about?'. Used to ask for clarification.
What kind of thing do you mean? / What do you mean?
何の本？ → 歴史の本。
What kind of book? → A history book.
If you are choosing from visible or known options, use どの or どれ, not どんな. どんな asks for a description, not a selection.
Intended: Which cake do you want?
Which cake do you want?