なんで

See also: なんて

Japanese

Etymology 1

Alternative spelling
何で

Pronunciation

• (Tokyo) なんで [náꜜǹdè] (Atamadaka – [1])
• IPA^(key): [nã̠nde̞]

Adverb

なんで • (nande) 

1. why?
2. (transport) how? by what means?

   なんでここに来(き)ましたか。

   Nande koko ni kimashita ka.

   How did you get here? (by walking? driving? etc...)

Usage notes

• Chiefly informal language. Although usage of なんで in 丁寧語 does not necessarily violate the register, it has a casual tone, making どうして preferable in most polite contexts.

Synonyms

• どうして (dōshite)
• なぜ (naze)

Etymology 2

Particle

なんで • (nande) 

1. (informal) Contraction of なので (na no de).