Understanding interrogative pronouns is crucial for mastering any language. In Japanese, interrogative pronouns can often be perplexing for English speakers due to their unique usage and context. Two essential interrogative pronouns you need to be familiar with in Japanese are 誰 (dare) and 何 (nani). These words are indispensable for asking questions and gaining information.
誰 (Dare): Who
The pronoun 誰 (dare) is used to ask about a person or people. Just like “who” in English, it can be used in various sentence structures to inquire about the identity of someone.
Basic Usage
1. **Who is this?**
– これは誰ですか？ (Kore wa dare desu ka?)
2. **Who are you?**
– あなたは誰ですか？ (Anata wa dare desu ka?)
In these examples, 誰 is the primary interrogative pronoun used to identify someone. Notice that the structure of the sentence remains consistent, with 誰 placed where the subject is questioned.
Contextual Nuances
In Japanese, context often determines the politeness level and the exact meaning of the pronoun. The word 誰 can be modified to increase politeness or specificity:
1. **Polite Form:**
– どなた (donata) is a more polite form of 誰. For example:
– こちらはどなたですか？ (Kochira wa donata desu ka?) – Who is this? (polite)
2. **Specificity:**
– To ask about a specific group of people, you might use:
– ここにいるのは誰ですか？ (Koko ni iru no wa dare desu ka?) – Who is here?
Combining with Particles
In Japanese, particles play a crucial role in sentence construction. When using 誰, various particles can be used to modify the question:
1. **With the particle が (ga):**
– 誰が来ますか？ (Dare ga kimasu ka?) – Who is coming?
2. **With the particle に (ni):**
– 誰に会いましたか？ (Dare ni aimashita ka?) – Who did you meet?
3. **With the particle の (no):**
– これは誰の本ですか？ (Kore wa dare no hon desu ka?) – Whose book is this?
Each particle modifies the question slightly, targeting different aspects such as the subject, the object, or possession.
何 (Nani): What
The pronoun 何 (nani) is used to ask about things or concepts, equivalent to “what” in English. It is extremely versatile and can be used in a wide range of contexts.
Basic Usage
1. **What is this?**
– これは何ですか？ (Kore wa nani desu ka?)
2. **What do you want?**
– あなたは何が欲しいですか？ (Anata wa nani ga hoshii desu ka?)
In these examples, 何 is used to inquire about objects or desires. The sentence structure remains quite flexible, and 何 can be adapted to various grammatical constructs.
Contextual Nuances
Just like 誰, the pronoun 何 can be modified based on the context:
1. **With Particles:**
– 何をしていますか？ (Nani o shiteimasu ka?) – What are you doing?
– 何に興味がありますか？ (Nani ni kyoumi ga arimasu ka?) – What are you interested in?
2. **With Counters:**
– 何個ありますか？ (Nanko arimasu ka?) – How many are there?
– 何時ですか？ (Nanji desu ka?) – What time is it?
The combination with counters and particles allows 何 to be used in more specific questions, providing clarity and precision.
Variations and Specific Forms
何 has a few variations that can be used to ask more specific questions:
1. **何故 (naze):**
– Why
– 何故泣いているの？ (Naze naiteiru no?) – Why are you crying?
2. **どんな (donna):**
– What kind of
– どんな食べ物が好きですか？ (Donna tabemono ga suki desu ka?) – What kind of food do you like?
3. **どの (dono):**
– Which
– どの本が好きですか？ (Dono hon ga suki desu ka?) – Which book do you like?
Each variation provides a different angle for asking questions, making your inquiries more detailed and specific.
Practical Examples and Dialogues
Understanding the theory behind 誰 and 何 is essential, but seeing them in action can provide better insights. Here are some practical examples and dialogues:
Example 1: Meeting Someone New
A: こんにちは！あなたは誰ですか？ (Konnichiwa! Anata wa dare desu ka?)
B: こんにちは、私は田中です。 (Konnichiwa, watashi wa Tanaka desu.)
A: 田中さん、よろしくお願いします。 (Tanaka-san, yoroshiku onegaishimasu.)
In this dialogue, A uses 誰 to ask B’s identity, and B responds by stating their name.
Example 2: Asking About an Object
A: これは何ですか？ (Kore wa nani desu ka?)
B: それはペンです。 (Sore wa pen desu.)
A: ありがとうございます。 (Arigatou gozaimasu.)
Here, A inquires about an object using 何, and B provides the answer.
Example 3: Polite Inquiry
A: こちらはどなたですか？ (Kochira wa donata desu ka?)
B: こちらは私の上司です。 (Kochira wa watashi no joushi desu.)
A: 失礼しました。 (Shitsurei shimashita.)
In a more formal setting, A uses どなた instead of 誰 to ask politely about someone.
Example 4: Specific Interests
A: あなたは何に興味がありますか？ (Anata wa nani ni kyoumi ga arimasu ka?)
B: 私は音楽に興味があります。 (Watashi wa ongaku ni kyoumi ga arimasu.)
A: そうですか。どんな音楽が好きですか？ (Sou desu ka. Donna ongaku ga suki desu ka?)
B: ロックが好きです。 (Rokku ga suki desu.)
In this example, A uses 何 to ask about B’s interests and then uses どんな to inquire more specifically.
Common Mistakes and Tips
While learning to use 誰 and 何, English speakers often make common mistakes. Here are some tips to avoid them:
1. **Mixing Up Politeness Levels:**
– Remember that どなた is more polite than 誰. Use どなた in formal situations or when speaking to someone you don’t know well.
2. **Incorrect Particle Usage:**
– Ensure you use the correct particles with 誰 and 何. For example, use 何を (nani o) for objects and 何に (nani ni) for interests or directions.
3. **Forgetting Context:**
– Japanese relies heavily on context. Be mindful of the situation and the person you are speaking to, adjusting your language accordingly.
4. **Literal Translations:**
– Avoid directly translating from English to Japanese. Instead, understand the grammatical structure and context in Japanese.
Practice Exercises
To solidify your understanding of 誰 and 何, here are some practice exercises:
Exercise 1: Fill in the Blanks
1. これは ______ ですか？ (What is this?)
2. あなたは ______ に会いましたか？ (Who did you meet?)
3. ここにいるのは ______ ですか？ (Who is here?)
4. あなたは ______ をしていますか？ (What are you doing?)
5. こちらは ______ ですか？ (Who is this? – polite)
Exercise 2: Create Sentences
1. Use 誰 to ask about someone’s identity.
2. Use 何 to inquire about an object.
3. Use どなた in a formal question.
4. Use 何 with a particle to ask about someone’s interest.
5. Use 何 with a counter to ask “How many?”
Exercise 3: Translate the Sentences
1. Who is coming?
2. What time is it?
3. Why are you laughing?
4. Whose book is that?
5. What kind of movies do you like?
These exercises will help reinforce your understanding and application of 誰 and 何 in various contexts.
Conclusion
Mastering interrogative pronouns like 誰 and 何 is a significant step in becoming proficient in Japanese. These pronouns are not only fundamental for asking questions but also for understanding responses. By practicing their usage in different contexts and being mindful of the nuances, you can improve your Japanese conversational skills. Keep practicing, and soon you’ll find yourself asking and answering questions with confidence and accuracy.
