How to Use “nanika / nanimo / dokoka ni / doko ni mo (何か・何も・どこかに・どこにも)” in Japanese | Talking about Something or Somewhere

level2 (N4)

Introduction

Want to say things like:

  • “I want to eat something.”
  • “I didn’t buy anything.”
  • “I went somewhere last weekend.”
  • “I didn’t go anywhere.”

In this lesson, we’ll learn how to express these ideas using:

  • 何か（なにか） = something
  • 何も（なにも） = not… anything
  • どこかに = somewhere
  • どこにも = not… anywhere

Meaning

何か（なにか）・何も（なにも）

In Japanese, 何か means “something,” while 何も means “not…anything” when used with a negative verb.

typeJapaneseMeaning
positive statements何か（なにか）something
questions何か（なにか）anything?
negative statements何も （なにも）+ negativenot … anything

Example:

  • 何か（なにか）たべたいです。= I want to eat something.
  • スーパーで何か（なにか）買かいましたか。 = Did you buy anything at the supermarket?
  • いいえ、何も（なにも）買いませんでした。= No, I did not buy anything.

どこかに・どこにも

“どこかに” means “somewhere” and “どこにも” means “not anywhere” or “nowhere” used with a negative verb. These expressions are used to talk about indefinite locations in Japanese.

typeJapaneseMeaning
positive statementsどこかにsomewhere
questionsどこかにanywhere?
negative statementsどこにもnot … anywhere

Example:

  • 週末しゅうまつ、どこかに行いきたいです。= I want to go somewhere this weekend.
  • 週末、どこかに行きますか。= Are you going anywhere this weekend?
  • いいえ、どこにも行きません。= No, I am not going anywhere.

Sentence Structure

何か（なにか）・何も（なにも）

To use 何か and 何も in sentences, place 何か before a verb in a positive sentence to mean “something.”

Example: デパートで何なにか買かいましたか。= Did you buy anything at a department store?

Also place 何も before a verb in a negative sentence to mean “not…anything.”

Example: デパートで何なにも買かいませんでした。= I did not buy anything at a department store.

どこかに・どこにも

To express indefinite locations in Japanese, place “どこかに” before a verb in a positive sentence to mean “somewhere” or “anywhere”.

Example: 週末しゅうまつ、どこかに行いきたいです。= I want to go somewhere this weekend.

Also place “どこにも” before a verb in a negative sentence to mean “not anywhere” or “nowhere”.

Example: 週末しゅうまつ、どこにも行いきませんでした。= I did not go anywhere last weekend.

Omission of object particles

Note that with 何なにか / 何なにも, the object particles are usually omitted.

Example: Shall we eat something?

✅ なにか食たべましょうか。
▲ なにかを食べましょうか。- This sentence is not entirely wrong, but it is somewhat unfamiliar to native Japanese.

Practice Time

Try answering the following using today’s grammar!

  1. 今月こんげつ、何なにか買かいましたか？ = Did you buy anything this month?
  2. きのう、どこかに行いきましたか？ = Did you go anywhere yesterday?

Example Answers:

  1. はい、Tシャツを買いました。= Yes, I bought a T-shirt.
    いいえ、何も買いませんでした。= No, I did not buy anything.
  2. はい、図書館としょかんに行きました。= Yes, I went to the library.
    いいえ、どこにも行きませんでした。= No, it did not go anywhere.

FAQ

Q
What is the difference between 「何か」(nanika) and 「何でも」(nandemo)?
A

何か (nanika): Means “something” (an unspecified thing). Used in positive sentences and questions.
Example: 何か食べたいです。(Nanika tabetai desu.) = I want to eat something.

何でも (nandemo): Means “anything” (any item from a group is okay) or “everything” depending on context. Used with positive verbs.
Example: 何でも食べられます。(Nandemo taberaremasu.) = I can eat anything.

Q
Can the particle 「を」(o) be omitted after 「何か」(nanika) or 「何も」(nanimo)?
A

Yes. In spoken Japanese, the particle 「を」 is very frequently omitted after 「何か」 or 「何も」 when they function as direct objects.

Example: 何なにか（を）飲のみたいです。= I want to drink something.

Q
Besides 「どこかに」(dokoka ni), can other particles (like 「で」「へ」「から」「と」) be used with 「どこか」(dokoka)?
A

Yes, absolutely. どこか + Particle:

  • わたしたち、どこかで会あいましたか。 = Have we met somewhere?
  • もうすぐGWなので、どこかへ行いきたいです。 = It is almost Golden Week (= a vacation week in May) and I want to go somewhere.
Q
Are there similar patterns for “someone” / “anyone” / “no one” and “sometime” / “anytime” / “never”?
A

Yes, these follow the same pattern using 「だれ」(dare – who) :

  • だれか (dareka): someone / anyone (in questions)
    だれか来ましたか？ (Dareka kimashita ka?) = Did someone come?
  • だれも (daremo) + Negative Verb: no one / not… anyone
    だれも来ませんでした。(Daremo kimasen deshita.) = No one came.
  • だれにも + Negative Verb: not… to anyone
    だれにも話しませんでした。(Dare nimo hanashimasen deshita.) = I didn’t talk to anyone.

Conclusion

Mastering nanika, nanimo, dokoka ni, and doko ni mo helps you sound more natural and handle a wider range of daily conversations in Japanese.

Now you can say things like:

  • “I want to eat something.”
  • “I didn’t buy anything.”
  • “I went somewhere last weekend.”
  • “I didn’t go anywhere.”

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