Quadruple VS
Synonym Boundary: "なに", "何曜日", "何年", "どんな"
All represent the core concept "what", but require precise selection.
Japanese Option A
なに
なに (nani)
N5 / CEFR
Japanese Option B
何曜日
なんようび (nanyoubi)
N5 / CEFR
Japanese Option C
何年
なんねん (nannen)
N5 / CEFR
Japanese Option D
どんな
どんな (donna)
N5 / CEFR
Quadruple VS Nuance Contrast & Social Differences
When expressing "what" in Japanese, you must carefully distinguish between "なに", "何曜日", "何年", "どんな" based on context.
- なに (なに (nani) - Level: N5): Maps to "what" and is used when Interrogative pronoun for things. Pronounced 'nan' before certain sounds.
- 何曜日 (なんようび (nanyoubi) - Level: N5): Maps to "what day of the week?" and is used when Used to ask about the day of the week. Example: 今日は何曜日ですか.
- 何年 (なんねん (nannen) - Level: N5): Maps to "what year? / how many years?" and is used when Can mean 'what year?'.
- どんな (どんな (donna) - Level: N5): Maps to "What kind of; What sort of." and is used when Used to ask about the nature, type, or characteristics of something. Always precedes a noun..
Context for "なに"
これはなんですか。
What is this?
Context for "何曜日"
今日は何曜日ですか。
What day of the week is today?
Context for "何年"
日本に何年住んでいますか。
How many years have you lived in Japan?
Context for "どんな"
どんな食べ物が好きですか。
What kind of food do you like?
Synonym Mastery Challenge
Which Japanese word perfectly fits this blank space?
Fill in the blank: "これはなんですか。" (Meaning: "What is this?")
🎉 Correct Answer!
Remember: "なに" is correct here because it represents "what" in the context: "What is this?".