"why" can be compared to an old Latin form qui, an ablative form, meaning how. Today "why" is used as a question word to ask the reason or purpose of something. This use might be explained from a formula such as "How does it come that ...".

Understanding the Context

If you meet an old friend of yours, whom you never expected to meet in town, you can express your surprise by saying: Why, it's Jim! This why in the ... 11 Why is it that everybody wants to help me whenever I need someone's help? Why does everybody want to help me whenever I need someone's help?

Key Insights

Can you please explain to me the difference in meaning between these two questions? I don't see it. Why is a just a rather odd wh -word. Its distribution is very limited -- it can only have the word reason as its antecedent, and since it's never the subject it's always deletable. Consequently it behaves strangely, as you and others point out.

Final Thoughts

I should've written to you much earlier. もっと早く あなたに 手紙を書く べきだった の ですが (書 か なくて 申し訳ありません)(口語 では 肯定文 の場合 should've done のように 短縮形 が 普通) You shouldn't have done what you did. 君 が したこと はすべき ではな かった He should have known better than to argue with my ... You should watch it. 例文帳に追加 観たほうがいいよ。 - Weblio Email例文集 Things that should be learned. 例文帳に追加 学ぶべきもの。 - Weblio Email例文集 I should sleep.

例文帳に追加 私は帰るべきだ。 - Weblio Email例文集 What should I do? 例文帳に追加 どうしたらいいの - Weblio ... I should improve my English skill so that I can speak English more fluently. I should know more about that.