Grammar Info

N4 Lesson 5: 14/20

(なん) + (Counter) + か

Some, Several, A few

Structure

(なん) + Counter +
いく + Counter +
いくつ

Details

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About なん + counter + か

The expression なん + counter + 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 (いく) (how many/much) may be used as part of this construction. While both are fairly common, (いく) is more common as part of set expressions, like (いく) (how much) and (いく) (how many/old), while なん is more common for counting specific things, like people.

Both (なん) and (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 (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(ほん)(なん)(さつ)(いもうと)あげた。
    I gave several books that I didn't need to my sister.
  • (まえ)何者(なにもの)
    Who are you! (What kind of person are you)

Examples

--:--

    このアニメなん()()(おも)

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

    昨日(きのう)なん(だい)(くるま)(ぬす)まれたらしい

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

    選手(せんしゅ)なん(にん)負傷(ふしょう)した。

    Some athletes were wounded.

    なん(さつ)(ほん)(やま)のように(ゆか)()まれていた

    Some books were piled on the floor like a mountain.

    なん(ぼん)高級(こうきゅう)()(みき)製材所(せいざいしょ)(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
    なんさつかほんやまのようにゆかまれていた。
    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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