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What kind

Stage 2Pointing, question & people wordsChunk 25 of 28 · items 225–228 of 484

The ko/so/a/do 'kind' row for describing something or asking what it is like.

konna

drama rank #85

this kind of; like this

こんな

Describes something you are showing or experiencing (konna kanji, konna no hajimete), and konna ni means 'this much, so'.

casual

konna kanji de ii?

Is it OK like this?

こんな感じでいい?

polite

konna kanji de ii desu ka?

Is it OK like this?

こんな感じでいいですか?

konna ni + adjective is an exclamation: konna ni oishii n da! (I didn't know it was this good!)

Learn alongside: sonna, donna, annaLearn first: kono

sonna

drama rank #53

that kind of; such

そんな

Describes what the other person has or just said, and builds push-back (sonna koto nai = that's not true); alone, sonna! means 'no way!'

casual

sonna kanji de ii yo.

Something like that is fine.

そんな感じでいいよ。

polite

sonna kanji de ii desu yo.

Something like that is fine.

そんな感じでいいですよ。

sonna ni + negative means 'not that much' (sonna ni takakunai); it has its own entry, sonna ni.

Learn alongside: konna, donna, annaLearn first: sono

donna

drama rank #175

what kind of

どんな

Goes before a noun to ask someone to describe it (donna hito?, donna kanji?); any particle goes after that noun (donna kanji ga ii?).

casual

donna kanji ga ii?

What sort of thing do you want?

どんな感じがいい?

polite

donna kanji ga ii desu ka?

What sort of thing would you like?

どんな感じがいいですか?

donna hito? asks for a description; dono hito? asks you to pick one.

Learn alongside: konna, sonna, annaLearn first: konna

anna

drama rank #239

that kind of (we know)

あんな

Describes something you both saw or know, mostly in anna hito or anna koto, and is often disapproving.

casual

anna kanji ga ii na.

I'd like it like that one.

あんな感じがいいな。

polite

anna kanji ga ii desu.

I'd like it like that one.

あんな感じがいいです。

anna hito often sounds critical, like 'someone like that'.

Learn alongside: konna, sonna, donnaLearn first: ano, konna