Nan なん

Interrogative adjective meaning: what, how many, several, a few, many.

Nan is a euphonically changed form of nani and is used to modify a noun.

1. Followed by counter
「今何時ですか。」「二時十五分です。」
''Ima nan ji desu ka.'' ''Ni ji juu go fun desu.''
''What time is it now?'' ''It's two fifteen.''
「終わるまで分かかりますか。」「」
''Owaru made nan pun kakarimasu ka.'' ''Han jikan desu.''
''How many minutes will it take to finish it?'' ''Half an hour.''
外国に回行ったことがありますか。
Gaikoku ni nan kai itta koto ga arimasu ka.
How many times have you been abroad?

2. Followed by counter + ka
やっと人か来ました。
Yatto nan nin ka kimashita.
Some people have finally come.
ジェーンは何日か前に会いました。
Jeen ni wa nan nichi ka mae ni aimashita.
I saw Jane a few days ago.

3. Followed by (number+) counter + mo
私は十冊も本を買いました。
Watashi wa nan jussatsu mo hon o kaimashita.
I bought dozens of books.
外国語を覚えるのに何年もかかります。
Gaikokugo o oboeru no ni nan nen mo kakarimasu.
It takes many years to master a foreign language.

4. Followed by no + noun
なんの音楽が好きですか。
Nan no ongaku ga suki desu ka.
What (kind of) music do you like?


-> See also: nani

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