Explanation
Use these words when you do not want to name a thing, or when the thing is not known. "Something" means one thing, but you do not say what it is.
For example, in "There is something on the table," "There is" tells us a thing exists, and "something" means an unknown object. English often puts this idea in one word, but Japanese usually says "何か" or "何も" with the noun omitted or understood. Use "anything" in questions and negatives, like "Do you want anything?" or "I do not need anything."
名前を言わずに「何か」「何も」「全部」を表したいときに使います。"something" は「何か1つある」という意味ですが、何かは言いません。
たとえば "There is something on the table." では、"There is" が「何かがある」と示し、"something" が「正体を言わない1つの物」を表します。英語はこの意味を1語で言いますが、日本語では「何か」「何も」と言ったり、物の名前を省いたりします。"anything" は疑問文や否定文でよく使い、"Do you want anything?" や "I do not need anything." のように使います。
Examples
- Something is wrong. 何かおかしいです。
- I can hear something. 何か聞こえます。
- Is there anything in the fridge? 冷蔵庫に何かありますか。
- I do not need anything. 私は何も必要ありません。
- Nothing is open now. 今は何も開いていません。
- Everything is ready for dinner. 夕食の準備は全部できています。
Common Mistakes
Japanese learners often say "I want some thing" or "I don't know some thing." In English, the pronoun is one word: "something." Use "something" for an unknown thing, "anything" in questions and negatives, and "nothing" in negative meaning: "I want something," "I don't know anything," "Nothing is there."
日本語話者は "I want some thing" や "I don't know some thing" のように、"some" と "thing" を分けてしまいがちです。英語では1語で "something" と書きます。未知の物には "something"、疑問文や否定文には "anything"、否定の意味そのものには "nothing" を使います。たとえば "I want something," "I don't know anything," "Nothing is there." です。