「好きなんです。」私は助けるいります。

[Janet Merai]

I have been using Rosetta Stone for a while now and understand what is going on... but one thing confuses me... why is 「なん」 used at the end of a sentence?

For example, a sentence I encountered has:

茶色のTシャツの方が好きなんです。

I do not understand why 「なん」 is used when it usually means a questionable "what?/Why?/How?" and so on.

May someone please educate me on its usage please?

Thank you :3

 

[Ashikaga]

I have been using Rosetta Stone for a while now and understand what is going on... but one thing confuses me... why is 「なん」 used at the end of a sentence?

For example, a sentence I encountered has:

茶色のTシャツの方が好きなんです。

I do not understand why 「なん」 is used when it usually means a questionable "what?/Why?/How?" and so on.

May someone please educate me on its usage please?

Thank you :3

なん = なの
好きなんです = 好きなのです

Now, I'm trying to to think of the reason why we say ～なんです/なのです instead of just saying ～です... Maybe someone else can enlighten me on that.

 

[Jericho Desu]

From little I know about it it is the "explanitory の" (or the contracted ん), which is used when your explaining why your doing this/saying that or something like that, its English equivalent is supposed to be something like "it's just that.../it's because...", however from what I understand it's also used when normally in English we wouldn't need an explaination so it's a little tricky to know when to use it.

Edit: Also you can use it for when your asking a question like "is it because your...?/ Are you saying that because...?" etc...

Don't quote me on this.

 

[Toritoribe]

it usually means a questionable "what?/Why?/How?" and so on.

なん you referred to here is the contraction of 何[なに].


Yeah, Jericho-san's explanation is correct. The following thread also might be helpful.
The "redundant" "n" before "da" and "desu" | Japan Forum

Just a tip
助けるいります → 助けが要ります(教えてください would be more proper in this case.)

 

[Janet Merai]

ありがとうございます トリトりベーさん :3

私は日本語を練習がこれからするをしています。

も、そののチップをありがとうございます。

(Hopefully I said this right)

Thank you very much Toritoribe :3

I will study Japanese more.

And thank you for the tip :3

 

[Toritoribe]

ありがとうございます トリトりベーさん

I'm not the only one who answered your question.

私は日本語を練習がこれからするをしています。

も、そののチップをありがとうございます。

私は日本語をもっと練習/勉強します。

それと/あと、助言（を）ありがとうございます。