When a particular Kanji sounds "nan" and when "nani"...

[Sirius]

Hello.

A real beginner's doubt....!!!!

I will be thankful if someone could clarify it.

In these two interrogative sentences:

1. O-shigoto wa nan desuka?
2. Soko ni nani ga arimasuka?

If we present this in Kanji/Kana, we would see that in the two there is used the same Kanji for "nan" and "nani".

When reading a not romanized text... how do I know that the Kanji is read "nan" or "nani"?

Regards.

 

[Elizabeth]

There are exceptions of course, but at a beginners level it might be best to start off thinking of "nan" when used with desu, da or with compounds (nannin, nannichi etc) and "nani" as coming before particles such as wo, ga, mo or ka.

 

[Sirius]

Thank you Elizabeth!!!

 

[Arashi]

Before any "t" sound (nante yomundesu ka?); "d" sounds are just modified "t" sounds, so they count too."ji" (as in, ima wa nanji?).

 

[Elizabeth]

Originally posted by Arashi
Before any "t" sound (nante yomundesu ka?); "d" sounds are just modified "t" sounds, so they count too."ji" (as in, ima wa nanji?).

Yes, t, d or kanji compounds like "nanji."

 

[nikki_the_insane]

This is so confusing, I wish I just automatically knew the language, but only a wish.*sigh* Maybe when I go to college I'll learn it since my crappy high school doesn't offer it.