Japanese symbol for “huh”
何
なに
Romaji: nani
what
In Japanese, huh is 何, read なに (nani).
Before using these characters for a tattoo, check them with a native speaker. Dictionary words often have several meanings, and the right choice depends on context.
Meanings
- pn what
- pn you-know-what; that thing
- pn whatsit; whachamacallit; what's-his-name; what's-her-name
- n penis; (one's) thing; dick
- adv (not) at all; (not) in the slightest
- int what?; huh?
Written forms: 何. Readings: なに、ナニ.
Kanji and stroke order
Other Japanese words for “huh”
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| あれ | あれ are | huh?; eh?; what? |
| えっ | えっ e | huh?; what's up? |
| や | や ya | huh; what |
| ん | ん n | huh?; what? |
| か | か ka | hmm; huh; I wonder (if, why, etc.) |
Related words
Words that share a kanji.
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 何とか | なんとか nantoka | something; something or other; so-and-so |
| 何で | なんで nande | why?; what for? |
| 何より | なにより naniyori | above anything else; above all; more than anything |
| 何とも | なんとも nantomo | really; very; extremely |
| 何事 | なにごと nanigoto | what; what sort of thing |
| 何と | なんと nanto | what; how |
See also: Chinese symbol for “huh”.
Data: JMdict (CC BY-SA 4.0); KANJIDIC2 (CC BY-SA 4.0); KanjiVG (CC BY-SA 3.0); wordfreq (CC BY-SA 4.0 (data)). Retrieved 2026-10-22.