what?
那 centers on a questioning or indefinite reference: 'what?' or 'which?'. It is used to point out something unknown or unspecified.
那 originally combined a phonetic element with the city enclosure ⻏. Its use as a question word likely developed from a demonstrative or locative function, but the exact historical path is uncertain.
The right side ⻏ looks like a question mark turned sideways, and the left side has strokes that resemble a person scratching their head. Together, 那 asks 'what?'.
For ナ, imagine someone asking 'What?' and you answer 'Nah, nothing.' The casual 'Nah' cues ナ while the question hangs in the air.
master (of a house, shop, etc.)
Naha (city in Okinawa)
China
moment; instant
young master; young gentleman
Izanagi; male deity who fathered Japan and the sun, moon, and storm gods
an extremely great number (often said to be 100 million)
(a) moment; an instant
atlas moth (Attacus atlas)
Central China
Izanagi-no-Mikoto; Izanagi; male deity who fathered Japan and the sun, moon, and storm gods
Izanami; female deity who gave birth to Japan and the sun, moon, and storm gods
Izanami-no-Mikoto; Izanami; female deity who gave birth to Japan and the sun, moon, and storm gods
ex-husband; former husband
principle of living only for the moment
ephemeral; transitory
(one's) father-in-law
Mahavairocana Sutra; Mahavairocana Tantra
Mahavairocana Sutra; Mahavairocana Tantra
probationary nun (undergoing a two-year probationary period before receiving ordainment)