Readings: カ (Onyomi), なに・なん (Kunyomi)
Meaning: what
何 is one of the most frequently used question words in Japanese. It’s used in common phrases like 何ですか (what is it?), 何人 (how many people?), and 何時 (what time?).
View JLPT N5 Kanji ListKanji Details
| Radical | 亻 (person radical) |
|---|---|
| Strokes | 7 |
| JLPT Level | N5 |
| Grade | 2nd Grade |
Readings
| Onyomi | カ (ka) |
|---|---|
| Kunyomi | なに・なん (nani, nan) |
How to Write – Stroke Order
The kanji 何 consists of the person radical 亻on the left and the component 可 (can/possible) on the right. It’s used to form many question words and expressions.
- Start with the person radical 亻
- Then write 可 on the right
Example Sentences
Japanese: これは何ですか？
Kana: これはなんですか？
Romaji: Kore wa nan desu ka?
English: What is this?
Japanese: 何を食べたいですか？
Kana: なにをたべたいですか？
Romaji: Nani o tabetai desu ka?
English: What do you want to eat?
Japanese: 何時に来ますか？
Kana: なんじにきますか？
Romaji: Nanji ni kimasu ka?
English: What time will you come?
Vocabulary Using 何
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 何 | なに / なん | what |
| 何人 | なんにん | how many people |
| 何時 | なんじ | what time |
| 何日 | なんにち | what day |
| 何も | なにも | nothing (with negative verb) |
🔗 N5 Grammar & Vocabulary
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