Can 何で mean "how"?

Question

Looking at <a href="http://www.guidetojapanese.org/learn/grammar/verbparticles">this</a>, it seems that when the word 何 is used with the で particle, it roughly translates into "by means of what" or "in what context." Personally, that sounds like asking "how". Is this assumption correct? Or can it change based on situation? Also, would it be appropriate to add の/ん だ/です to the end of sentences that use this combination (since it seems that an explanation is being asked.) Would a sentence like this be correct?: 何で医者になったの？ (How did you become a doctor?) Thanks!

Answer 1

The particle で can be "ingredient" "material" "method" or "tool" marker. If you are talking about these things, 何で could be "with what?" "by what?" and eventually "how." で has another meaning which is "cause" or "reason." In this case, なんで is "why?" (By the way, I think Hiragana なんで is more often used if the meaning is why.) If somebody says なんで医者になったの, it sound like "why did you become a doctor" to me, unless you are asking the actual method of becoming a doctor. (For example, you used the money or something.)

Answer 2

NANI DE can act as "how."

NANDE is using the TE-form of DA, DE, as a way to give a reason, and I think I've seen it mostly used in that way.