何
(Nani)
basic interrogatives: what / who / where / when / how / why.
Connection rules
- ＋Place the question word where the unknown information would go in the answer. End with か in polite speech.
- ＋何 reads as なん before t/d/n/desu sounds: 何ですか (なんですか), 何時 (なんじ), 何人 (なんにん). Elsewhere なに: 何を食べますか.
- ＋In casual speech, drop the か and use rising intonation.
Examples
1.
これは何ですか。
Kore wa nani desu ka.
What is this?
「basic interrogatives: what / who / where / when / how / why」
2.
誰が来ましたか。
Dare ga ki mashi ta ka.
Who came?
「basic interrogatives: what / who / where / when / how / why」