“Why” in Japanese
Short answer
Why in Japanese is “何故” (naze). Full meaning: why, how, for what reason; why.
Other ways to say “Why” in Japanese
ホワイ
howai why
安んぞ
izukunzo how, why
何故に
nazeni why, how
何が悲しくて
nanigakanashikute why, how come; unfortunately, alas
ナゼ
naze why, how, for what reason; why
なぜ
naze why, how, for what reason; why
ホワィ
howai why
何ゆえ
naniyue why, how, for what reason; why
なにゆえ
naniyue why, how, for what reason; why
何ぞや
nanzoya what; why, how
なして
nashite forming, comprising, making up; why?, for what reason, how, in what way, for what purpose, what for
Looking for the other direction? Search any Japanese word in the Nihoner lexicon, or practise what you have learned in the learning games.