Grammar Info

N4 Lesson 5: 14/20

何(なん) + (Counter) + かSome, Several, A few

Structure

何(なん) + Counter + か
いく + Counter + か
いくつか

Details

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About なん + counter + か

The expression なん + counter + か in Japanese is a way of highlighting an uncertain number of something, and comes across similarly to 'some', 'several', or 'a few' in English. Literally, the meaning is much closer to 'what + counter + I wonder?', as it shows the speaker's uncertainty about the number.

In addition to なん; いく, from the kanji 幾(いく) (how many/much) may be used as part of this construction. While both are fairly common, 幾(いく) is more common as part of set expressions, like 幾(いく)ら (how much) and 幾(いく)つ (how many/old), while なん is more common for counting specific things, like people.

Both 何(なん) and 幾(いく) are regularly seen in plain hiragana and their kanji forms, so it is worth remembering both.

Caution

Despite having the same kanji as 何(なに), なん will almost always be used to count things, while なに will be used to identify things.

  • いらない本(ほん)を何(なん)冊(さつ)か妹(いもうと)にあげた。
    I gave several books that I didn't need to my sister.
  • お前(まえ)は何者(なにもの)だ！
    Who are you! (What kind of person are you)

Examples

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    このアニメのなん話(わ)かを見(み)たと思(おも)う。

    I think I have seen a few episodes of this anime.

    昨日(きのう)なん台(だい)かの車(くるま)が盗(ぬす)まれたらしい。

    I heard that several (some) cars were stolen yesterday.

    選手(せんしゅ)のなん人(にん)かが負傷(ふしょう)した。

    Some athletes were wounded.

    なん冊(さつ)かの本(ほん)が山(やま)のように床(ゆか)に積(つ)まれていた。

    Some books were piled on the floor like a mountain.

    なん本(ぼん)かの高級(こうきゅう)な木(き)の幹(みき)を製材所(せいざいしょ)に届(とど)けた。

    I sent some high grade tree trunks to the sawmill.

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      なん + counter + か – Grammar Discussion

      Most Recent Replies (7 in total)

      • CrisH

        CrisH

        I’d like to know as well - it doesn’t allow いく in
        なんさつかの本ほんは山やまのように床ゆかに積つまれていた。
        but I can’t tell why not.

      • Manab

        Manab

        I’m a little confused. I have found some sites saying thay these counter expressions can’t follow が because they don’t work like nouns.

        For example:

        このアニメの何話かを見たと思う

        Shouldn’t it be このアニメを何話か見たと思う or このアニメの何話か見たと思う without を at all?

      • Daru

        Daru

        Hey guys!

        @CrisH
        I’m guessing you’re trying to answer いくさつか？It’s because of nuance.

        なん is almost always used to count, whereas いく is more often used in set expressions. It’s not wrong in the sense that its ungrammatical, it’s just so uncommon you’d probably make heads turn.

        You’re much better off just using the set expressions (いくら、いくつ…) when it contextually makes the most sense to.

        @Manab

        Could you link me to the site? I w...

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