Quadruple VS
Synonym Boundary: "何年", "何時", "何", "どんな"
All represent the core concept "what", but require precise selection.
Japanese Option A
何年
なんねん (nannen)
N5 / CEFR
Japanese Option B
何時
なんじ (nanji)
N5 / CEFR
Japanese Option C
何
なに (nani) / なん (nan)
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 "何年", "何時", "何", "どんな" based on context.
- 何年 (なんねん (nannen) - Level: N5): Maps to "what year? / how many years?" and is used when Can mean 'what year?'.
- 何時 (なんじ (nanji) - Level: N5): Maps to "what time?" and is used when Used to ask about the current time or the time of an event. Example: 今、何時ですか.
- 何 (なに (nani) / なん (nan) - Level: N5): Maps to "what" and is used when Used to ask 'what'. The reading changes to 'なん' when followed by です.
- 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 "何年"
日本に何年住んでいますか。
How many years have you lived in Japan?
Context for "何時"
今、何時ですか。
What time is it now?
Context for "何"
これは何ですか。
What is this?
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: "日本に ＿＿＿ 住んでいますか。" (Meaning: "How many years have you lived in Japan?")
🎉 Correct Answer!
Remember: "何年" is correct here because it represents "what year? / how many years?" in the context: "How many years have you lived in Japan?".