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What is the Kanji for 'What'? | 何

If you are wondering what is the Japanese Kanji for 'What', you've come to the right place!

The Japanese Kanji for 'What' is 何.

    kanji

    Meaning

    What

    Reading

    kunyomiなに

    nani

    なん

    nan

    Parts

    Person (人)Possible

    Example Word

    何の: which. The Japanese determiner '何の (どの)' is used to ask about or specify a particular item or choice from a group. It translates to 'which' in English and is commonly used when selecting or inquiring about something specific. For example: Which book do you want?「どの本が欲しいですか?」(どのほんがほしいですか?). Which train are you taking?「どの電車に乗りますか?」(どのでんしゃにのりますか?). It is important to note that '何の (どの)' is often followed by a noun, as in 'どの本 (どのほん) (which book)' or 'どの電車 (どのでんしゃ) (which train)'.

    Radical

    Stroke Count

    7

    JLPT

    N5

    Grade

    2

    Frequency

    13

    Handwriting

Parts of the Kanji

If you visually break down this kanji, you can see it is made up of 2 parts:

    radical

    Meaning

    Person

    Radical Form Of

    kanji

    Meaning

    Possible

As Part Of Other Kanji

This kanji appears as part of one other kanji:

    kanji

    Meaning

    Baggage

Words Using

This kanji is used in 28 words:

    word

    Meaning

    What

    word

    何時

    Meaning

    When

    word

    何処

    Meaning

    Where

    word

    何の

    Meaning

    Which

    word

    何故

    Meaning

    Why

    word

    何れ

    Meaning

    Which, Eventually

    word

    何方

    Meaning

    Where, Which

    word

    何か

    Meaning

    Something

    word

    何度

    Meaning

    How many times, What degree

    word

    如何に

    Meaning

    How

    word

    如何

    Meaning

    What, How

    word

    如何なる

    Meaning

    Any

    word

    何事

    Meaning

    Matter, Incident

    word

    何しろ

    Meaning

    Anyway

    word

    何とか

    Meaning

    Somehow

    word

    何より

    Meaning

    Best

    word

    何と

    Meaning

    What, How

    word

    何となく

    Meaning

    Somehow

    word

    何だか

    Meaning

    Somehow

    word

    何で

    Meaning

    Why

    word

    何て

    Meaning

    How

    word

    何千

    Meaning

    Thousands

    word

    何百

    Meaning

    Hundreds

    word

    何十

    Meaning

    Dozens

    word

    何者

    Meaning

    What, Who

    word

    何時頃

    Meaning

    When

    word

    何物

    Meaning

    Something

    word

    何遍

    Meaning

    Times, How many times

Kanji Related to Through the Part

These 91 kanji contain the part 亻 as well.

    kanji

    Meaning

    Rest

    kanji

    Meaning

    Body

    kanji

    Meaning

    Night

    kanji

    Meaning

    Make

    kanji

    Meaning

    Low

    kanji

    Meaning

    Live

    kanji

    Meaning

    Borrow, Rent

    kanji

    Meaning

    Double, Times

    kanji

    Meaning

    Serve

    kanji

    使

    Meaning

    Use

    kanji

    便

    Meaning

    Convenience

    kanji

    Meaning

    Work

    kanji

    宿

    Meaning

    Lodging

    kanji

    Meaning

    Attach

    kanji

    Meaning

    Transmit

    kanji

    Meaning

    Topple, Overthrow

    kanji

    Meaning

    Hundred million

    kanji

    Meaning

    Accompany, Offer

    kanji

    Meaning

    Other

    Radical Form Of

    kanji

    Meaning

    Value, Price

    kanji

    Meaning

    Individual

    kanji

    Meaning

    Substitute, Era

    kanji

    Meaning

    Price

    kanji

    Meaning

    Change

    kanji

    Meaning

    Trust

    kanji

    Meaning

    Preserve

    kanji

    Meaning

    Equip, Provide

    kanji

    Meaning

    Person in charge, Connection

    kanji

    Meaning

    Duty, Responsibility

    kanji

    Meaning

    Matter, Affair

    kanji

    Meaning

    Rank

    kanji

    Meaning

    Halt

    kanji

    Meaning

    Buddha

    kanji

    Meaning

    Principles, Ethics

    kanji

    Meaning

    Reliant, Depend on

    kanji

    Meaning

    Image, Statue

    kanji

    Meaning

    Wound, Injury

    kanji

    Meaning

    Side

    kanji

    Meaning

    Example

    kanji

    Meaning

    Recompense, Reparation

    kanji

    Meaning

    Ceremony

    kanji

    Meaning

    Resemble

    kanji

    Meaning

    Discipline

    kanji

    Meaning

    Stretch

    kanji

    Meaning

    Superior, Gentle

    kanji

    Meaning

    Relationship

    kanji

    Meaning

    Invade

    kanji

    Meaning

    Healthy

    kanji

    Meaning

    Temporary

    kanji

    Meaning

    Hold an event, Sponsor

    kanji

    Meaning

    Urge, Press

    kanji

    Meaning

    Debt

    kanji

    Meaning

    Great, Admirable

    kanji

    Meaning

    Vulgar, Popular

    kanji

    Meaning

    Look up

    kanji

    Meaning

    Couple, By chance

    kanji

    Meaning

    Inquire, Pay respects

    kanji

    Meaning

    Actor, Haiku

    kanji

    Meaning

    Emulate, Copy after

    kanji

    Meaning

    I, Me

    kanji

    Meaning

    Colleague, Official

    kanji

    Meaning

    Biased

    kanji

    Meaning

    Warehouse

    kanji

    Meaning

    Assist, Help

    kanji

    Meaning

    Join, Put together

    kanji

    Meaning

    Falsify, Fake

    kanji

    Meaning

    Bonze, Buddhist priest

    kanji

    Meaning

    Fell, Cut down

    kanji

    Meaning

    Brilliant, Genius

    kanji

    Meaning

    Greatness, Outstanding person

    kanji

    Meaning

    Side, Nearby

    kanji

    Meaning

    Thrifty, Frugal

    kanji

    Meaning

    Prostrated

    kanji

    Meaning

    Sack

    kanji

    Meaning

    Accompany, Companion

    kanji

    Meaning

    Salary

    kanji

    Meaning

    Despise

    kanji

    Meaning

    However, But

    kanji

    Meaning

    Spy

    kanji

    Meaning

    Hermit

    kanji

    Meaning

    Chief, Older sibling of parent

    kanji

    Meaning

    Attend to, Samurai

    kanji

    Meaning

    Confucianism, Confucian

    kanji

    Meaning

    Fine, Excellent

    kanji

    Meaning

    Benevolent, Humanity

    kanji

    Meaning

    Marquis, Feudal lord

    kanji

    Meaning

    Deed

    kanji

    Meaning

    Proud

    kanji

    Meaning

    Follower, Companion

    kanji

    Meaning

    A wee bit

    kanji

    Meaning

    Me, I

Kanji Related to Through the Part

These 4 kanji contain the part 可 as well.

    kanji

    Meaning

    Song

    kanji

    Meaning

    River

    kanji

    Meaning

    Strange, Unusual

    kanji

    Meaning

    Bullying

Learn the Kanji

Let's make sure you fully understand this kanji.

What does 何 mean?

何 means 'What'.

Japanese school students learn this kanji in Second Grade, while non-native learners often study it for the JLPT N5 exam.

To help you master this kanji, here's an interactive lesson where you'll practice its readings and meanings.