何で？

[TheAce]

I've just learned that 何で can mean "by what" and also "why"

is there a way to keep the two apart?
i know that they're pronounced as "nani da" (by what) and "nan da" (why)
but what if they're written?
because I think it would be kinda weird if you write someone a letter in which you ask "by what do you come to japan?" and the person you wrote the letter to thinks you mean "why do you come to japan?"

 

[yasuyuki]

mmm,,,, it's a very difficult question.
exactly, "何で" has two meanings so we have to understand from the context.
But we don't use it for "why" in formal writings and instead of that, "何故(なぜ)" or "どうして" is used
maybe because "nan de kita no? (why did you come?)" has some impoliteness and a bit of malice.
It implies "Don't come."
So when you write to friends or bosses, you should not use "何で".
I recommend "どうして" for why and "どうやって" for by what.

 

[Elizabeth]

maybe because "nan de kita no? (why did you come?)" has some impoliteness and a bit of malice.
It implies "Don't come."

うそ?! Uso yan! I thought nande like this was an expression of "Aa odoroita!"

 

[yasuyuki]

aaaa,,,,yes yes yes...
Exactly. Nande is also used like that.
But the meaning comes from "why".
The feeling of surprise is often caused from the unanticipated situation.
And then people want to ask somebody "Why that happened!?"
So with "nande", they say "Somebody, tell me why!!"
In other case, maybe you know, there is a dialect word "nan de ya nen(why's that?)".
And when it is compressed, nande is used to complain to somebody or something.
Both nande are said when we have to make some reactions.
To distinguish them, their intonations are the point.
The lesson of nande is up here.^^

 

[Toritoribe]

The following thread might be somewhat helpful.

Some Questions on Japanese | Japan Forum

 

[Elizabeth]

関西弁の「nande ya nen 」に相当するような日本語は nande (sou) nano でしょうかねえ ?

今は親しみがこもっているあたたかい言葉に感じます。