Grammar Info

N4 Lesson 5: 14/20

何(なん) + (Counter) + か

Some, Several, A few

Structure

何(なん) + Counter + か
いく + Counter + か
いくつか

Details

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    Standard

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    一般

About なん + counter + か

The expression なん + counter + か 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.
  • そこには何(なん)回(かい)か行(い)ったことがあると思(おも)う。
    I think I have been there several times.
  • ごめん、紙(かみ)を何(なん)枚(まい)かちょうだい。
    Sorry, may I have some paper?
In addition to なん; いく, from the kanji 幾(いく) (how many/much) may be used as part of this construction. While both are fairly common, 幾(いく) is more common as part of set expressions, like 幾(いく)ら (how much) and 幾(いく)つ (how many/old), while なん is more common for counting specific things, like people.
  • この車(くるま)はいくらですか？
    How much is this car?
  • マリちゃんは幾(いく)つになったの？
    How old did Mari-chan turn?
Both 何(なん) and 幾(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 何(なに), なん will almost always be used to count things, while なに will be used to identify things.
  • いらない本(ほん)を何冊(なんさつ)か妹(いもうと)にあげた。
    I gave several books that I didn't need to my sister.
  • お前(まえ)は何者(なにもの)だ！
    Who are you! (What kind of person are you)

Examples

  • 選手(せんしゅ)の何人(なんにん)かが負傷(ふしょう)した。

    Some athletes were wounded.

    いく人か is also acceptable.

  • 何冊(なんさつ)かの本(ほん)が山(やま)のように床(ゆか)に積(つ)まれていた。

    Some books were piled on the floor like a mountain.

  • 何本(なんぼん)かの高級(こうきゅう)な木(き)の幹(みき)を製材所(せいざいしょ)に届(とど)けた。

    I sent some high grade tree trunks to the sawmill.

  • 彼(かれ)は何匹(なんびき)かの猫(ねこ)を撫(な)でるように命(めい)じられた。

    He was ordered to pet several cats.

  • 彼(かれ)らの写真(しゃしん)を何枚(なんまい)か撮(と)れてよかった。

    I am glad that I was able to take a few photos of them.

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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
    なんさつかの本ほんは山やまのように床ゆかに積つまれていた。
    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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