Japanese Conversation · Level 27
90 words
Japanese word
なんで
Pronunciation
Romajinande
Meaning
- adverbwhy
Example
なんでそんなに早く帰りますか？na n de so n na ni haya ku kae ri ma su ka
Why are you going home so early?
More examples
なんで急に予定を変えたんですか。na n de kyū ni yo tei o ka e ta n de su ka
Why did you suddenly change the plan?
Core concept
Seeks the explanation or purpose that makes an event or action understandable.
Common phrases
なんでそう思うna n de sō omo u
Why do you think so
なんでそんなことを言うna n de so n na ko to o yū
Why do you say such a thing
Similar words
なぜnaze: Asks for the reason behind an event or action in formal speech or writing.
どうしてdōshite: Asks for the reason behind an event or action in ordinary speech.
Definition in Japanese
起こったことや行為について、なぜそうなったか、何のためかをたずねる意を表す。o ko tta ko to ya kō i ni tsu i te na ze sō na tta ka nan no ta me ka o ta zu ne ru i o arawa su
Word origin
なんで (nande) is written as 何で (nande) and is formed from 何 (nani, "what") and the particle で (de, "by" or "with"); this structure connects a question about means with one about reason.
Usage tips
- なんで (nande) often makes a question sound direct and conversational, whereas なぜ (naze) is more common in formal speech and writing.
Other meanings
- what foradverb