Synonym Nuance VS
How to say "What" in Japanese
Both words can translate to "what", but which should you choose?
Japanese Option A
何時
なんじ (nanji)
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 何時 and どんな.
In Japanese, 何時 (なんじ (nanji)) is typically associated with "what time?" (Syllabus Level: N5) and represents Used to ask about the current time or the time of an event. Example: 今、何時ですか.
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 "何時"
今、何時ですか。
What time is it now?
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: "今、 ＿＿＿ ですか。" (Meaning: "What time is it now?")
🎉 Correct Answer!
Remember: "何時" fits here because it means "what time?" in the context of: "What time is it now?". "どんな" represents "What kind of; What sort of.".