何 means “what”

なに · nani

Kun'yomi (Japanese reading)

なに, なん

On'yomi (Chinese reading)

カ

JLPT N5 · Taught in grade 2 · 7 strokes

The story

A person bent under a load, stopped mid-road: "what are you carrying?" The first question every learner masters, 何 opens every conversation: what is this, what time, what's your name.

Used in 何ですか (nan desu ka, what is it?), 何時 (nanji, what time), and 何人 (nannin, how many people)

More from Everyday Japan

• 映 reflect
• 毎 every
• 写 copy
• 便 convenience
• 服 clothing
• 曜 day of week
• 飯 meal
• 洗 wash
• 同 same
• 円 circle
• 度 degrees
• 午 noon

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Readings from KANJIDIC2, © EDRDG, CC BY-SA.