N5 pronoun - nan vs nani

Japanese
#1

Hi, I’m a new user to Bunpro - hope this is the right place to ask this question (searched the forum but didn’t find the answer).

I’ve just started my N5 lessons. And I find myself struggling with when to use “nan” or “nani” for “what”.

The definitions in vocabulary just say:

  • なん
    An abbreviated form of the word used to ask questions about unknown items or things.
  • なに
    The full form of the word used to ask questions about unknown items or things.

But that doesn’t help me at all when I get review questions requiring me to choose one of them. Can someone point me in the right direction?

#2

If you compare dictionary sections side by side, you’ll notice that なん is used with counters while なに isn’t. That distinction already covers a lot of Bunpro’s example sentences.
The remaining few, like casual exclamation なんだ, are I guess something you just have to remember on a case by case basis.

2 Likes
#3

I’m not sure if this is exactly what you’re asking, but the discussion in this thread may answer your question:

1 Like
#4

Thanks!

So it seems なに is shortened to なん in two cases (at least):

  1. when used with counters and
  2. when it’s followed by sounds in the な, だ, and た-lines of the kana chart

I’ll try applying that to my reviews and see if things go better! :smiley: