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Kevin
nan vs. nani
Hey. When do you read 何 as nan and when as nani?
For example: ここに何が有りますか。
May 18, 2015 12:18 PM
Answers · 3
2
I think you just have to remember them, I don't know whether there is any rules.
なんで
なんでも
なんじ
なんねん
なにが
なにを
なにも
May 18, 2015
1
In general, you read 何 as "nani" when it is placed before a particle and "nan" when combined with です or a counter like じ or さい for example.
1 - これは何ですか。(kore wa nan desu ka) - What is this?
2- 何はこれ。(nani WA kore)- What is this?
The meaning is the same, but the reading is different.
In other cases..
お前は何をしているの。(omae wa nani WO shiteiru no) - What are you doing? [informal]
君の弟はなんさいですか。- (kimi no otouto wa nansai desu ka) -How old is your younger brother?
In your sentence..
ここに何がありますか。- (koko ni nani GA arimasuka)
Ga is a particle and 何 is coming before it, so you read as NANI.
May 18, 2015
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Kevin
Language Skills
English, German, Japanese, Spanish
Learning Language
Japanese
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