I have been listening to a lot of Japanese audio for my listening exam today at University using the recommendations here in the community (thanks again for all your suggestions). There is one phrase that I have been hearing repeatedly that sounds like they’re saying “nani nani desu”, but I’ve no idea what that is for sure. Google is returning no results for me, so I might be mishearing it… any idea what it could be?
2 Likes
なになに is a vague pronoun. Kind of like assorted whatever. It should be in your grammar book. And I should know the right term for it, but I don’t.
3 Likes
I am up to lesson 10 in Minna no Nihongo 1. If it is in there, I don’t think I’ve encountered it yet.
1 Like
You’re level 5, so you probably already got the kanji WaniKani / Kanji / 何
That word can mean “what” in English, but it can also mean “something” in other contexts.
7 Likes
If you are actually hearing なになに it’s like saying “something something” in English. It’s a filler.
Other similar ones are なんちゃらなんちゃら, ほにゃらら, まるまる, and probably others.
9 Likes
Yeah you’re right. I have learnt that Nani or Nan as means “what”. But then wasn’t sure when I heard “what what” xD
It meaning something makes a lot more sense!
3 Likes
I like むにゃむにゃ。
3 Likes
My teacher uses this to indicate
- variation in possibilities, like nani nani ga suru
- in speaking practise to indicate I should fill in a variation. assignment f.e. you forgot your naninani at the resaurant. make a phonecall to retrieve it etc.
- if she herself is struggling to find a word in English or Dutch when she wants to help me out (she is Japanese)
3 Likes
This topic was automatically closed 365 days after the last reply. New replies are no longer allowed.