# what: Japanese–English dictionary

Canonical URL: https://anaversity.com/dictionary/japanese-english/what
Language pair: Japanese and English
CEFR level: A1
Part of speech: pronoun
IPA: /wɒt/
Katakana pronunciation: ワット

## Meaning 1: Questions
Used to ask for information about something, such as a person's name, an object, or an event.
### 日本語の意味
物事の名前、内容、出来事などについて情報を尋ねる際に使います。

### Examples
- What is this?
  - English: これ何ですか？
- What do you want?
  - English: 何が欲しいですか？
- What happened?
  - English: 何があったのですか？

## Meaning 2: Asking for repetition
Used to ask someone to repeat what they have said.

### Examples

  - English: What? I didn't hear you.

  - English: What did you say?

  - English: What was that?

## Meaning 3: Expressing surprise
Used to express surprise or disbelief.

### Examples

  - English: What! You're leaving already?

  - English: What? That's impossible!

  - English: What! I can't believe it.

## Meaning 4: Identifying something
Used to identify or describe something.

### Examples

  - English: It was a what-if scenario.

  - English: He's a real go-getter, a do-what-it-takes kind of guy.

  - English: This is a how-to guide.

## English equivalents
- what
- which
- how
- why
## Japanese equivalents
- 何
- どんな
## Common patterns
- **what about**: Used to ask for an opinion or suggestion about something. Example: What about going to the park?
- **what for**: Used to ask the reason or purpose of something. Example: What did you buy that for?
- **what if**: Used to consider a possible situation or event. Example: What if it rains tomorrow?
- **what's up**: A casual greeting asking how someone is or what they are doing. Example: Hey, what's up?

## More from Anaversity
- [Japanese–English dictionary](https://anaversity.com/dictionary/japanese-english)
- [what in the English dictionary](https://anaversity.com/dictionary/english/what)
- [AI and agent access guide](https://anaversity.com/llms.txt)

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