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How to Use 何か and 何も in Everyday Japanese

Learning Japanese particles and expressions can be tricky, but mastering なに and なに will make your daily conversations much smoother. These two expressions are essential when talking about “something” or “nothing,” but their usage depends on whether the sentence is positive or negative. Let’s break it down!


1️⃣ なにか — “Something”

なに is used when you’re referring to something unspecified or unknown. You usually use it in positive sentences or when asking questions.

Examples:

  • なにべたい。
    I want to eat something.
  • なにみますか?
    Would you like something to drink?
  • つくえうえなにかあります。
    There’s something on the desk.

💡 Tip: なにか is often used in questions and offers because it’s polite and open-ended.


2️⃣ なにも — “Nothing”

なに is used when you’re talking about nothing at all. It is almost always used in negative sentences.

Examples:

  • なにべませんでした。
    I didn’t eat anything.
  • なにこえません。
    I can’t hear anything.
  • なにっていません。
    I don’t have anything.

💡 Tip: You cannot use なにも with positive sentences. Saying “なにべます” is incorrect.


3️⃣ Quick Comparison

ExpressionMeaningSentence TypeExample
なにsomethingpositive / questionなにみたいです。
なにnothingnegativeなにみたくないです。

4️⃣ Fun Everyday Examples

Here are some real-life situations:

  • At a cafe:
    • なにかおすすめはありますか?
      Do you have any recommendations?
  • Talking about your day:
    • 今日きょうなにもしませんでした。
      I didn’t do anything today.
  • Shopping:
    • なにかいいものがつかるといいね。
      I hope you find something good.

5️⃣ Practice Tip

Try making sentences using なに for positive or uncertain situations and なに for negative ones.

Example:

  • なにべたいです。 (I want to eat something.)
  • なにえません。 (I can’t see anything.)

Mastering なにか and なにも will help you sound more natural in everyday Japanese. Start noticing how native speakers use these in conversations, and soon you’ll be using them effortlessly!

If you want to learn Japanese, improve your skills, or connect with native speakers and other learners, we can help. We offer one-on-one lessons, a supportive community, and on demand courses.

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