Grammar Info
N5 Lesson 8: 12/13

何(なに) + か
Something, Nothing, Anything, Not anything, Some kind of, Not any kind of

The meaning of these words will change, based on whether the sentence is positive, or negative

Structure
+ Phrase
+ Phrase[ない]
Details
Part of Speech Noun
Word Type Adverbial Particle
Register Standard
品詞 名詞
単語の種類 副助詞
使用域 一般
Information
何(なに)か and 何(なに)も are constructions that are used in Japanese for expressing ‘something’, ‘anything’, or ‘nothing’. The main difference between the two being that 何(なに)も is used with negative phrases (phrases that use ない or ありません), while 何(なに)か is used in other cases.
To use this expression, we simply need to put 何(なに)か or 何(なに)も before the desired phrase.
  • 何(なに)か食(た)べます
    Do you want to eat something?
  • 冷蔵庫(れいぞうこ)中(なか)何(なに)もないです
    There is nothing inside the refrigerator.
Caution
There are several casual forms of these expressions that are used in speech, or in certain dialects. These forms are なんにか, なんか, or なんにも, なんも.
Slow Male
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私(わたし)何(なに)か嫌(いや) ことしました
Did I do something you didn't like?
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いいえ何(なに)もていません
No, I didn't do anything (wrong).
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日本(にほん)行(い)って何(なに)か食(た)べたいものがあります
When you go to Japan, is there something that you want to eat?
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Online
Books
Genki I 2nd Edition
Page 196
みんなの日本語 I
Page 87 [CH 13]
Tae Kim's Japanese Grammar Guide
Page 100