JLPT N5 grammar
なに vs なん — Meaning & Examples
Both mean "what." なに is used generally (なにをたべますか). なん is used before です and counters (なんですか、なんじ、なんにん). The distinction is mainly phonetic.
Question Words — The どこ・なに・だれ・いつ Series
Japanese question words replace the unknown part of a sentence:
なに / なん (nani / nan) — what
これはなにですか？ — What is this?
なにをたべますか？ — What do you eat?
(なん is used before です and certain counters: なんじ、なんにん)
だれ (dare) — who
あのひとはだれですか？ — Who is that person?
だれがきましたか？ — Who came?
どこ (doko) — where
えきはどこですか？ — Where is the station?
どこにいきますか？ — Where are you going?
いつ (itsu) — when
いつにほんにいきますか？ — When are you going to Japan?
たんじょうびはいつですか？ — When is your birthday?
どれ (dore) — which one (of three or more)
どれがすきですか？ — Which one do you like?
どの + noun — which ~
どのほんがすきですか？ — Which book do you like?
どんな + noun — what kind of ~
どんなたべものがすきですか？ — What kind of food do you like?
Practice questions
Try this question on なに vs なん. Pick an answer in your head, then open “Show answer”.
1. なにを たべますか (nani o tabemasu ka) and なんですか (nan desu ka) — why does なに become なん in the second?
- なに and なん are unrelated words
- なん is only used in questions
- なん is more polite than なに
- なん is used before です and certain counters
Show answer
Answer: なん is used before です and certain counters
Both mean "what," but なん is used specifically before です and certain counters (なんじ, なんにん), while なに is used more generally (なにをたべますか). The distinction is mainly about ease of pronunciation.
Practise なに vs なん in the free app
This point is part of the “Questions and Question Words” lesson in A Star Japanese. Study it with examples, a quiz, flashcards and timed JLPT N5 mock exams. Free on iPhone and Android.
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Related N5 grammar points
From the same lesson: Questions and Question Words
Frequently asked questions
What does なに vs なん mean?
Both mean "what." なに is used generally (なにをたべますか). なん is used before です and counters (なんですか、なんじ、なんにん). The distinction is mainly phonetic.
Is なに vs なん on the JLPT N5 test?
なに vs なん is taught in the JLPT N5 grammar course in A Star Japanese (lesson “Questions and Question Words”), so it is a pattern learners at this level are expected to recognise. The JLPT does not publish an official grammar list, so treat this as a study guide rather than an official requirement.
How can I practise なに vs なん?
Open the “Questions and Question Words” lesson in the free A Star Japanese app for iPhone and Android. It has examples, a quiz after every lesson, flashcards with spaced repetition and timed JLPT N5 mock exams, with no ads.