When「なん」 is used & 「なに」is used in all other cases.

Both [] and [] mean ‘what’

「なん」 is used:

(1) When it precedes a word beginning with ‘d’ ‘n’ or ‘t’

 Sore wa nan desu ka. (What is that?)

 Nan no hon desu ka. (What is the book about?)
 Nan to iimasu ka. (How to say that?)

(2) When it is followed by a counter.

 Nan nin desu ka. (How many person)

「なに」is used in all other cases.

 なにをかいますか。 (What will you buy?)