Check
You can pick any "Challenge" but it will be easier if you start from 【CHALLENGE 01】
Each challenge focuses on a specific topic/situation. Once you learn the base format, the rest is up to your vocabulary.
It will be very useful if you learn the Sound of Hiragana, and Commonly used words.
Check out Survival Japanese "Boot Camp Series" for building vocabulary!
Challenge 11 covers the fourth of 5 W-question forms: WHAT (Subject matter)
- When: いつ・itu
- Where: どこ・doko
- Who: だれ・dare
- What:なに・nani
- Why
Let's view the challenge video!
This video focuses on how you explain/answer about "THE SUBJECT" matter.
Please note:
"What" questions ask for information about something (usually non-human).
In this challenge, we focus on how you answer or explain about the subject matter.
[なに・nani] is always a question. so when you hear "なに・nani", the answer must include specific information about something.
You hear these often
Common types of question using "なに・nani":
- なに?/なんですか?・nani? ⇒ what?
- なに?/なんですか?・sore nani?/sore nandesuka? ⇒ what is it?
- なに?/なんですか?・onamae wa nandesuka? ⇒ what is your name?
- なにが・naniga？⇒ nani ga suki (desuka)? ⇒ what do you like?
- なにが・naniga？⇒ nani ga hosii (desuka)? ⇒ what do you want?
- なにが・naniga？⇒ nani ga sitai (desuka)? ⇒ what do you want to do?
- なにを・nanio？⇒ nani o kaimasitaka? ⇒ what did you buy?
- なにを・nanio？⇒ nani o tabetai desuka? ⇒ what do you want to eat?
- なにを・nanio？⇒ nani o siteirun desuka? ⇒ what are you doing?
- なんの (なにの)?・nanno? ⇒ nanno benkyo o siteimasuka? ⇒ what do you study?
- なんの (なにの)?・nanno? ⇒ nanno hon desuka? ⇒ what book is it?
- なんの (なにの)?・nanno? ⇒ nanno jugyō? ⇒ what class?
Common question form for なに・nani・what
| なに・what | Example | What it means | ||
| なに/なん・nani/nan・what | + | ですか・desuka? | What? | |
| なにが・naniga・what | + | すきですか？・suki desu ka? | What do you like? | |
| なにを・nanio・what | + | たべますか？・tabe masu ka? | What (do you) eat? | |
| なにの/なんの・nanino/nanno・what | + | ほんですか？・hon desu ka? | What book is it? | |
| なにと・nanito・what | + | まぜますか？・maze masu ka? | What (do you) mix with? | |
Survival Tip
Answer to "what" questions can be short, one word.
Let's listen to some casual conversations. How much can you pick up? 
なに？ ⇒ それ、なんですか？【What is it?】⇒ あたらしいすまほです/new smart phone.
nani? sore nan desu ka atarasii sumaho desu
なにが？ ⇒ なにがほしいですか？【What do you want?】 ⇒ あたらしいくつ/new shoes.
nani ga nani ga hosii desu ka atarasii kutu
なにを？ ⇒ なにをつくりましたか？【What did you make?】 ⇒ すきやき/sukiyaki.
nani o nani o tukuri masita ka sukiyaki
なんの？ ⇒ なんのはなしですか？【talking about what?】 ⇒ りょこうのはなしです/about a trip.
nan no nan no hanasi desuka ryokō no hanasi desu
なにと？ ⇒ なにとなにがひつようですか？【what & what do you need?】 ⇒ さとうとしお/sugar & salt.
nani to? nani to nani ga hituyō desu ka satō to sio
Check!
If you have any questions on this challenge, check out the Q&A section to see if you can find answers. Or, you can submit your questions from HERE.
