Have you ever wanted to get to know someone better by asking about their preferences?
For example, you might want to ask a friend what kind of food they like, or what kind of movies or anime they enjoy watching.

Or maybe you are chatting with someone who is planning a trip to Japan! And you want to ask what kind of places they want to visit or what kind of areas they are interested in.

That is exactly when どんな (donna) comes in handy!

どんな is a super useful word that means “what kind of” or “what sort of.”
It helps you ask not just what, but what type, what style, or what kind of feeling someone has in mind.
By using どんな, your questions become warmer, more natural, and much more conversational.

Let’s learn how to use it and make your Japanese sound more friendly and curious.
Ready? Let’s dive in!

なに (nani) vs どんな (donna)
A common mistake for beginners is mixing up なに and どんな.
Both are question words, but they ask for different kinds of information.

なに (nani)
なに asks for the specific thing or name.

なにが好きですか？
なにがすきですか？
nani ga suki desu ka?
What do you like?

どんな (donna)
On the other hand, どんな asks for the type, category, or description.

どんな食べ物が好きですか？
どんなたべものがすきですか？
donna tabemono ga suki desu ka?
What kind of food do you like?

💡 Quick Tip
どんな always needs a noun after it. You cannot use it by itself.
Think of it as a helper that must team up with a noun, like どんな人(ひと/hito - what kind of person) or どんな場所(ばしょ/basho - what kind of place).

どんな食べ物が好きですか？
どんなたべものがすきですか？
donna tabemono ga suki desu ka?
What kind of food do you like?

新しい先生はどんな人ですか？
あたらしいせんせいはどんなひとですか？
atarashii sensei ha donna hito desu ka?
What kind of person is the new teacher?

どんな部屋に住みたいですか？
どんなへやにすみたいですか？
donna heya ni sumitai desu ka?
What kind of room do you want to live in?

どんな仕事をしていますか？
どんなしごとをしていますか？
donna shigoto wo shiteimasu ka?
What kind of job do you do?

休みの日は、どんなところへ行きますか？
やすみのひは、どんなところへいきますか？
yasumi no hi ha, donna tokoro he ikimasu ka?
Where do you usually go on your days off? / What kind of places do you go to?

東京はどんな所ですか？
とうきょうはどんなどころですか？
toukyou ha donna tokoro desu ka?
What kind of place is Tokyo?

日本旅行では、どんなことをしますか？
にほんりょこうでは、どんなことをしますか？
nihon ryokou deha, donna koto wo shimasu ka?
What kind of things will you do on your trip to Japan?

• Grammar Point: どんな (donna)
• JLPT Level: N5
• Meaning: What kind of, what sort of
• Quick Explanation: Use どんな to ask about the type, nature, or characteristics of a person or thing.
  It always comes directly before a noun.
  
  
  

So that’s how we use どんな.
It’s a simple but powerful word that helps you ask deeper, more interesting questions in Japanese.

どんなゴールを持って日本語を勉強していますか？
どんなもくひょうをもってにほんごをべんきょうしていますか？
donna gooru wo motte nihongo wo benkyou shiteimasu ka?
What kind of goals do you have for studying Japanese?

Questions like this are a great way to start meaningful conversations and learn more about each other. Keep asking, keep listening, and enjoy the journey!

Your Sensei,
Hikari 👩🏻‍🏫✨

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