In Japanese, the word どんな (donna) is widely used as an interrogative pronoun to question what type or kind of something is. Its function in the language is essential for expressing curiosity about the nature, quality, or characteristics of something or someone. Let's explore in detail how this term is used, its origins, and different contexts.
Table of Content
The origin and meaning of どんな.
The word どんな is composed of two elements:
- ど (do)An interrogative prefix used in various words to indicate questions, such as どこ (doko, "where") and どう (dou, "how").
- な (na): A particle frequently used to connect an interrogative pronoun with nouns or adjectives.
When together, どんな is used to ask about the nature or category of something. Its common translation in Portuguese would be "what kind of" or "which type of".
Example of practical use:
どんな本が好きですか？
(Donna hon ga suki desu ka?)
Translation: "What type of books do you like?"
This pronoun is particularly useful for obtaining more detailed information in a conversation, making it an essential part of the vocabulary for those learning Japanese.
Uso gramatical de どんな
The どんな always accompanies a noun, as its function is to qualify or detail the type of that noun. It is commonly used in questions but can also appear in affirmative or negative sentences, depending on the context.
1. Direct questions with どんな
The most common use is in questions to request information about categories, such as in the example above. Here are a few more examples:
どんな音楽が好きですか？
(Donna ongaku ga suki desu ka?)
Translation: "What kind of music do you like?"
どんな食べ物がありますか？
(Donna tabemono ga arimasu ka?)
Translation: "What type of food do you have?"
2. Affirmative or descriptive answers
Although mostly used in questions, どんな can also appear in affirmative sentences to describe a situation. Example:
どんな人でも成功できます。
(Donna hito demo seikou dekimasu.)
Translation: "Any type of person can succeed."
3. Negative expressions with どんな
It can also be used to indicate that no type of something is acceptable or available.
Example:
どんな理由でも許されません。
(Donna riyuu demo yurusa remasen.)
Translation: "No type of reason will be accepted."
Differences between どんな, なに, and どう.
Although どんな, なに (nani), and どう (dou) are all interrogative pronouns, each has a specific use.
Comparison:
- どんな: Question "what type of". Example: What type of movie do you like?
- なに: Question "what". Example: What are you going to do?
- どう: Ask "how". Example: What do you think?
Cultural curiosities about どんな
The use of どんな can be interpreted as polite and open in Japan, especially when it comes to starting conversations. Asking questions with どんな shows genuine interest in the other person's likes and opinions. For example, when meeting someone for the first time, asking something like どんなスポーツが好きですか？ ("What kind of sports do you like?") is a friendly way to engage.
In addition, learning to use this pronoun correctly can help foreigners avoid misunderstandings in everyday situations, such as shopping or restaurants, where it is important to specify preferences.
Frases in Japanese with Donna
面白ければどんな本でも結構です。
omoshirokereba donna hon demo kekkou desu
As long as it is interesting, any book will do.
アメリカでは、どんな仕事をするのですか?
amerika dewa, donna shigoto o suru no desu ka?
What is your job in America?
どんなことがあっても彼女を許せない。
donna koto ga atte mo kanojo o yurusenai
I cannot forgive her under any condition.
皆さんはどんなプログラミング言語が好きですか？
minna san wa donna puroguramingu gengo ga suki desu ka?
What programming language do people like?
他にどんな選択肢があるの？
hoka ni donna sentakushi ga aru no?
What other options do I have?
僕の人生がどんなものか、君は分かっているのか？
boku no jinsei ga donna mono ka, kimi wa wakatte iru no ka?
Do you have any idea what my life is like?
例えどんなことがあってもあきらめません。
tatoe donna koto ga atte mo akiramemasen
No matter what happens, I will not give up.
来年どんな事が起こるのかわかるらない。
rainen donna koto ga okoru noka wakaranai
There is no way to know what will happen next year.
友達を見ることによってどんな人かわかる。
tomodachi o miru kotoniyatte donna hito ka wakaru
You can find out what a person is like by observing their friends.
誰がどんな趣味だろうと君の知ったことか？
dare ga donna juumi darou kimi no shitta koto ka?
Is someone's hobby of interest to you?
余暇をどんな風に楽しまれていますか?
yoka o donna kaze ni tanoshimarete imasuka?
What's your favorite hobby?
友達がいないと言うことがどんなことかは、子供でさえ知っている。
tomodachi ga inai to iu koto ga donna koto ka wa, kodomo desae shitteiru
Even a child knows what it is to be without friends.
目的さえよければどんな手段をとってもよいわけではない。
mokudeki sae yokereba donna juudan o tottemo yoi wakadewanai
The ends do not always justify the means.