Nara, what?
奈 is primarily used as a name element, especially in the place name Nara. Its standalone meaning is uncertain, but it can express a rhetorical question like "what?" in classical contexts.
The historical origin of 奈 is uncertain. It appears early in Chinese writing, possibly as a phonetic loan for a word meaning 'what' or as a representation of a fruit tree. The modern form combines 大 and 示, but this may not reflect the original composition.
Imagine a large (大) altar (示) in the ancient capital of Nara. When you see it, you ask, 'What is this grand structure?' The altar represents the historical and cultural weight of Nara.
For ナ, think of Nara itself: the first syllable 'Na' is exactly the reading. Picture the famous Nara Daibutsu (奈良の大仏) to lock in ナ.
Kanagawa (prefecture)
Nara (city, prefecture)
Naraka; Hell; Hades
Kanagawa University
Kyoto-Osaka-Nara (esp. the border area of the three)
Nara Kotsu Bus Company
Nara Buddhism; Nara-period Buddhism
Nara Institute of Science and Technology (abbr); NAIST
Nara Institute of Science and Technology; NAIST
Nara National Cultural Properties Research Institute
Nara University
Nara Women's University
Naragakuen University
Nara Reform School
Nara University of Education
Narabunka Women's Junior College
Nara National Research Institute of Cultural Properties
Nara period (710-794 CE)
Nara period (710-794)
vegetables pickled in sake lees