Asking 'what?' the right way
By the end you'll ask what something is, what someone said, and what someone wants in casual or polite Japanese.
N5 N5 to N4 · 3 phrases
- 1
何ですか？
nan desu ka?
Polite 'what is it?', point and ask in shops or at work.
Use when pointing at something you don't recognise
これは何ですか？
kore wa nan desu ka?
What's this?
- 2
えっ、何？
e?, nani?
Casual 'huh, what?' when you missed what was said.
Use when you didn't catch a friend's words
えっ、何？もう一回？
e?, nani? mou ikkai?
Huh, what? One more time?
- 3
何にする？
nan ni suru?
Casual 'what'll you have?' for menus, choices, plans.
Use when ordering with a friend, picking together
ランチ、何にする？
ranchi, nan ni suru?
What are you getting for lunch?
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