Synonym Nuance VS
How to say "What" in Japanese
Both words can translate to "what", but which should you choose?
Japanese Option A
何年
なんねん (nannen)
N5 / CEFR Syllabus
VS
Japanese Option B
どんな
どんな (donna)
N5 / CEFR Syllabus
Nuance Contrast & Translation Difference
When translating "what" into Japanese, you must choose carefully between 何年 and どんな.
In Japanese, 何年 (なんねん (nannen)) is typically associated with "what year? / how many years?" (Syllabus Level: N5) and represents Can mean 'what year?'.
On the other hand, どんな (どんな (donna)) maps to "What kind of; What sort of." (Syllabus Level: N5) and represents Used to ask about the nature, type, or characteristics of something. Always precedes a noun.. A literal translation of "what" can often sound unnatural to native Japanese speakers if mixed up!
Bilingual Context for "何年"
日本に何年住んでいますか。
How many years have you lived in Japan?
Bilingual Context for "どんな"
どんな食べ物が好きですか。
What kind of food do you like?
Nuance Mastery Quiz
Which Japanese word perfectly fits this blank space?
Fill in the blank: "日本に ＿＿＿ 住んでいますか。" (Meaning: "How many years have you lived in Japan?")
🎉 Correct Answer!
Remember: "何年" fits here because it means "what year? / how many years?" in the context of: "How many years have you lived in Japan?". "どんな" represents "What kind of; What sort of.".