What (Something / Anything / Nothing / How Many)

7 related grammar points that express the same core idea - compared below so you can tell which one to reach for.

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なに / なん

Asking 'what is this?', 'how old?', or 'what time?'.

vs : Say なん when the next sound is です or a copula (なんですか), a counter (なん歳, なん時), or the particles で, の, と (なんで, なんの). Everywhere else, especially before を, が and に, say なに (なにを食べますか). これはなにですか is a common learner error: before です it is always なん.