The Meaning of nanishiro [何しろ] In Japanese

何しろ
なにしろ
Romaji: nanishiro N5

What does 何しろ mean?

Translation and Meaning

what, do (imperative)

Definition

What does 何しろ mean? It is a conjunction that signals a pivot to the main point, roughly equating to ‘anyway’ or ‘in any case’. It introduces a statement the speaker wants to emphasize.

Type

Conjunction (接続詞)

Stroke Order

Meanings

  • anyway, in any case
  • to introduce the main point with emphasis
  • slightly formal or literary tone

Composition

  • 何 — what
  • しろ — imperative of する

Usage

Used in both spoken and written Japanese to begin a sentence or clause and guide the listener to the main assertion; common in semi-formal and narrative contexts; less common in casual speech. It is followed by a comma when used mid-sentence.
💡 Tips
Mnemonic: 何 (what) + しろ (imperative of do) evokes a sharp prompt, hinting at moving on to the main point; imagine a coach saying ‘What… do this anyway’ to steer the discussion forward.

Variations

  • とにかく (tonikaku) — anyway
  • それはともかく (sore wa tomokaku) — that aside
  • とりあえず (toriaezu) — for the time being

Words with the same Meaning

Example Phrases

  • 何しろ今日は忙しくて、夕飯は外食だ。
    Nanishiro kyou wa isogashikute, yuuhan wa gaishoku da.
    Anyway, I’m busy today, so we’re eating out for dinner.
    Lista:
    • 何しろ (nanishiro) – anyway
    • 今日は (kyou wa) – today
    • 忙しくて (isogashikute) – busy (and)
    • 夕飯は (yuuhan wa) – dinner (topic)
    • 外食だ (gaishoku da) – is eating out
    「何しろ」 signals a strong kickoff, meaning ‘anyway/for one thing,’ introducing the situation.
何しろ