The Particle なんて
In this lesson, we will learn about the particle なんて. By understanding the emotional implications made with it, you will also learn more about similar structures, most notably など and なんか, with which interchangeability is possible in certain contexts.
First, we will investigate the individual usages なんて possesses. Its usages do differ in how the particle is classified, so it will be important to pay attention to details like that to get a feel for how it functions grammatically.
Etymology of なんて
First and foremost, なんて is the combination of the interrogative pronoun 何 and the quotative particle と in its colloquial variant って, which is seen truncated as て due to being preceded by the nasal mora ん. This means that, grammatically, it functions a lot like って.
Usage I: As a Quotative Particle
When なんて functions as a quotative particle, it is syntactically equivalent to と, but in practice, it is semantically more equivalent to ～などと. The emotional flare that なんて provides which などと would not are reflective of the speaker’s response to being exposed to information not anticipated – shock, joy, impression, amazement, inspiration, awe, doubt, bewilderment, frustration, distrust, backlash, etc.
1. 誰が「〇〇が馬鹿だ」なんて言った？ おかしなやつだな。
So, who called “## stupid?” What a weirdo.
2. タイトルに「手術した～」なんて書いてますが、数分で終わるような簡単なものでした。
The title’s like “I had surgery!” but it was a simple procedure that only took a few minutes.
3. 行くなんて言ってないよ。
I’m not saying that I’m going.
4. この世も終わりだなんて考えるのは愚かだ。
Thinking something like the world’s going to end is foolish!
As a quotative particle, なんて appears after predicates. What that predicate can ultimately consists of does depend on the nature of なんて, as its quotative functionality carries over into its other usages. When, however, it is more or less the same as the quotative particle と, it may follow all predicate types after their 終止形1, and the predicates themselves may appear in various tense and aspect forms or even full quotes (indirect or direct) like in Ex. 6.
5. 旦那なんて呼ばれる身分じゃない！
I’m in no position to be called “husband”!
6. 「仕事と私、どっちが大事なの？」なんて絶対に言ってはいけない禁句なんですよ。
“Which is more important, work or me?” is a taboo that you should absolutely never utter.
Usage I’: Vague Defining
When used in between two nouns, なんて has Noun A vaguely define Noun A’, and the impression is generally negative by default, possibly to have A sound strange, odd, suspicious, fishy, etc. In this environment, it is syntactically interchangeable with ～という.
7. 池田さんなんて人は知りません。
I don’t know a person by the name of Ikeda-san.
8. カタルーニャなんてとこ聞いたこともないな。
I’ve never heard of this “Catalonia” before.
You may also see NA ～なんていう NA’, in which the insertion of いう helps mitigate the otherwise harsher negative portrayal of the first noun.
9. カタルーニャなんていうとこ聞いたこともないな。
I’ve never heard of “Catalonia” before.
This vague defining quality of なんて can also be extended to predicates, in which case the emotional effect is one of downplaying the purported definition.
10. スイーツでまずいなんてことってあんまりないですよね。
There really aren’t that many times in which something is a sweet but actually tastes bad.
In the following example, while なんて is indeed after an adjective, the adjective is being used in a metalinguistic fashion, which is evident by the use of “” in English. When predicates are used in such fashion, they became nominalized as an effect, which then triggers なんて to act as the glue which defines this new NA as NA’.
11. すごいなんて言葉では全然足りない。
Using a word like “awesome” is totally not good enough.
Usage II: Illustrating by Example
Semantically, なんて is most often treated as a colloquial alternative to など2, adding an emotional flare that may either belittle what is being referenced or humble oneself. Syntactically, なんて also illustrating by example, which is the core function of など. Putting aside its special nuancing, the なんて in the following sentences could be swapped out with など and still be grammatical.
12. 予言なんて信じないよ。
I don’t believe in prophecies.
13. 地位や財産なんて要らないよ。
I don’t need stratus or wealth.
14. 私なんてまだまだです。
I still have a long way to go.
By using なんて instead of など, the speaker has stated example(s) but also implies that listing out more is irrelevant or inapplicable.
15. アライグマなんて怖くないよ。
There’s nothing scary about raccoons!
16. ケイトさんは、包丁なんて使ったことあるのかな。
I wonder if she’s ever used a kitchen knife.
17. バスク語なんて簡単さ。
Basque is just easy!
18. 野球なんてちょっとつまらなくない？
Isn’t baseball a little boring?
19. 漢字なんてどうしても書けないの！
I can’t write kanji no matter what I do!
20. セス先生のことなんて知らないわ。
I don’t know who this Seth-sensei is.
21. なんで試験なんてやるんだろ。
Why is it that we do exams anyway?
22. 無意味な愚痴なんて聞きたくもない。
I don’t want to hear your meaningless complaining.
23. もう、健太君なんて知らないわ！
I don’t know you anymore, Kentaro!
In addition to following nouns which may either function as subjects or objects depending on the predicate, Usage II of なんて can find itself wedged inside する verbs. It may even similarly be seen after the 連用形 of adjectives for the same emphatic effect. In both situations, the predicate that accompanies ought to be in the negative.
24. そもそも決闘なんてしませんよ。
We’re not going to be having a duel in the first place.
25. 痛くなんてないよ。
It doesn’t hurt, nothing of the sort!
Interchangeability with なんか
Usage II of なんて is principally interchangeable with the particle なんか with no substantial change in meaning other than a noticeable change in tonality, with なんか being harsher.
15. アライグマ｛なんて・なんか｝怖くないよ。
There’s nothing scary about raccoons!
24. そもそも決闘｛なんて・なんか｝しませんよ。
We’re not going to be having a duel in the first place.
25. 痛く｛なんて・なんか｝ないよ。
It doesn’t hurt, nothing of the sort!
Both なんて・なんか may also act as emphasis markers when placed after case particles. It is worth noting that the highlighting effect we are witnessing with Usage II here is a hallmark feature of topicalization, which we are about to delve into. While both particles are possible in this environment, the choice between the two is starkly different in tone, with なんか conveying a far stronger emotional response (heavily leaning toward a strong negative reaction), whereas なんて, while mostly in negative contexts, is more level-headed in comparison.
26. ちょっと旅行に｛なんて ・なんか △｝家を離れられません。
I really can’t be leaving to go on some vacation.
27. 子供に｛なんて・なんか｝できるわけないだろう？
There’s no way a kid could do this, yeah?
28. １００歳まで｛なんて・なんか｝生きるな。
Don’t live to be 100.
Usage III: As a Topicalizer
In Exs. 12-28, なんて may also be viewed as a topicalizer, in which case it has interchangeability with the particle は, but the sticking difference is the emotional effect that なんて has on the sentence.
Next, we will see how なんて may act as a topicalizer in even more environments.
When the particle なんて functions as topicalizer, it can follow an array of things. In addition to nouns as we have seen, it may also follow predicates. While the sentences we saw above involved interchangeability with は, the ones that follow display interchangeability with って, making it clear that its quotative functionality is also at play.
29. 〇〇は冷酷で野心的な政治家だったんだよ。大統領になる人｛なんて・って｝みんなそうだけど。
## was a ruthless, ambitious politician. Like all presidents.
30. そんな事をする｛なんて ◎・って 〇｝普通じゃない。
It’s not normal to do something of the sort.
28. 人生なんてそんな素晴らしいものじゃない。
Human life is not such a wonderful thing.
31. 人間なんて脆いものなんでしょうね。
People really are weak things, aren’t they?
32. 男性じゃあるまいし、鼻下が青いなんて洒落になりません。
It’s not as if I’m a man; my upper-lip being blue is no joking matter.
33. 始まりが怖いなんて、そんなの当然だからね。
That’s ‘cause it’s natural for the start (of something) to be scary.
34. あれほど醜いなんて、本当に残念なことだ。
It truly is a shame that (he) is so ugly like that.
35. どうしてここに来たのかなんて、決まっている。
It’s a given as to why (he) came here.
At times, なんて may also be very similar to ～というのは. In such scenarios, the comment following なんて is a level-headed response.
36. 息子さん早稲田に受かったなんて凄いですね。
That’s amazing how your son got accepted to Waseda (University).
37. 正月に一度も帰らないなんて何か事情があるからだろうしなあ。
There’s probably got to be some reason behind (him) not going home even one on New Year’s.
～などというのは
From a literal standpoint, なんて naturally portrays the topicalized phrase it is paired with as an example, meaning that などというのは can, at times, also be a valid paraphrase. In such cases, the statement is not as emotionally based. As a consequence, you are more likely to see などというのは in the written language. First, let’s consider a sentence that can exhibit either なんて or などというのは leans toward なんて in the spoken language.
38. 重要な会議に遅刻する｛なんて ◎・などというのは △｝、許せない。
It’s unforgiveable to be late to an important meeting.
Being late to a meeting, and an important one at that, is certainly not allowed in any work place. It is also a great example of what not to do, thus the interchangeability between なんて and などというのは. Yet, the predicate 許せない is not entirely indicative of a written statement. Ex. 39, on the other hand, is indicative of the written language.
39. 慢性的に遅刻するなどというのは、欠点だ。
Being chronically late, and the likes, are flaws.
～のなんて
In addition to all the things that なんて may follow, despite its own nominalizing effect when it functions as a topicalizer, it may also follow nominalized phrases by the use of の. The use of の draws attention to the information stated by the predicate it is nominalizing, which is already a point of discussion. In this light, the use of なんて is far more emphatic than just using は or というのは.
40. 全員に好かれるのなんて無理だよね。
It’s impossible to be liked by everyone, huh.
41. 禿げるのなんて絶対嫌だ！
Going bald would just be absolutely awful!
42. タイムマシンが出来るのなんて不可能なんですよね？
Building a time machine is impossible, right?
43. 英語できるのなんて成人としては当たり前じゃないか。
Being able to speak English is only natural as an adult, is it not?
Embedded Quote ＋ ～なんて
With the quotative functionality of なんて at play, it may also appear after indirect quotes, which can be full renditions of what someone has said. By using なんて, all the emotional flare – shock, joy, impression, amazement, inspiration, awe, doubt, bewilderment, frustration, distrust, backlash, etc. – is possible within context.
44. 「留学するよ！」なんて超いきなりじゃない？
Being like, “I’m going to study abroad” is pretty too sudden, no?
45. 安全運転に集中しろ、なんて冗談じゃないよ。
I’m not kidding when I say “focus on safe driving.”
Usage III: Embedded Quotes Rendered in Metalinguistic Fashion
As a topicalizer, it fully retains its quotative functionality, so much so that it can even have the embedded quote rendered metalinguistically3, in which case an epenthetic だ may appear to that effect. In these environments, なんて facilitates making a declarative statement without going so far as outright blasting it as one thing or another. Rather, the point trying to made by the past few examples is that the speaker thinks the statements topicalized by なんて would be believed by anyone who heard the claim.
46. 寒いだなんて、冗談だろう？
You’re kidding, right, saying it’s cold?
47. デイビッド君ったら、先生に向かってあんな質問をするなんて、何なんだよ。
Agh, David-kun, what are you thinking, asking a question like that to a teacher?
48. 中国語での日常会話が簡単（だ）なんて嘘だよ！
It’s a complete lie that daily conversation is easy!
49. 体型が美しいだなんて、照れるわ。
I get embarrassed when I’m told my figure is beautiful.
50. 必ずずっと一緒（だ）なんて、あり得ないんじゃない？
Always being together forever is impossible, no?
While なんて may be used with the copula だ in metalinguistic fashion as a means of restructuring said predicates, the same phenomenon does not occur with its dialectal variants や or じゃ.
51a. 東京弁：買ってあげる（だ）なんて言っていない。〇
51b. 京都弁：買うたげるなんて言うてへん。〇
51c. 京都弁：買うたげるやなんて言うてへん。X
I’m not saying that I’ll buy it for you (or anything of the such).
なんて → Shock/Surprise
Sometimes, the emotional effect is one of shock/surprise when the circumstance is one that the speaker finds wholly unexpected. This shock/surprise can exhibit all the range of emotions a speaker might have toward such surprise, like we had learned with Usage I, but in this environment, we expect the reaction rendered as a statement rather than a citation verb. In this environment in which なんて follows predicates, it is syntactically interchangeable with とは.
52. ラファエル君がお酒をやめた｛だなんて・とは｝びっくりした。驚きだね。
I’m surprised that Rafael-kun has quit drinking. That’s surprising, huh.
53. テイラー君にお金を貸した｛なんて・とは｝捨てたも同然だったな。
Having lent Taylor-kun money was practically like throwing away money.
54. 仏様を焼き払うなんて、人間の出来ることじゃないと思うがね。
Though I’m pretty sure reducing the Buddha into ashes is not something man can do.
55. 我が国の神々を疑うなんて、とんだ身分だな。
What unthinkable position you’re in doubting the gods of our country.
56. つい最近まで高校生だったなんて信じられませんね。
I can’t believe that I’ve been a high school student up until just recently.
57. 智美がああいう人だったなんて、知らなかったです。
I had no idea Tomomi was that kind of a person.
Sometimes the statement that follows なんて is not the expected main predicate that would otherwise follow but an afterthought, in which case the complement marked by なんて is more like a final particle.
58. 雪合戦なんて、子供じゃあるまいし。
A snowball fight…it isn’t as if I’m a child.
In Ex. 58, the thought of “a snowball fight” is so unbelievable, that the speaker can hardly believe that the other party has suggested one. If what follows なんて in Ex. 58 were something like 子供っぽい instead, the sentence would behave no differently than the sentences we have seen thus far, but because it is 子供じゃあるまいし we can see how the speaker has switched from discussing their disbelief to relating it back to themselves, just in the same in the breath.
Usage III: As a Final particle
Oftentimes, when describing disbelief, the predicate that would normally follow なんて is ellipsed from the sentence, rendering なんて as a final particle.
59. どうして急にお酒なんて･･･
Why alcohol all so suddenly?
60. まさか、和睦の道を選ぶなんて･･･
Wow, to think (they’re) choosing the path of reconciliation…
61. お正月がこんなに大変（だ）なんて･･･
To think New Year’s would be this intense…
62. どちらも本物だなんて。
Both are the real thing?!
63. え、まさかあいつが俺のことを好きだなんて･･･
What? You’re saying that guy likes me!?
64. これからずっと怯えて暮らさなきゃいけないなんて。
The thought of us having to live from here on out in fear….
65. まだまだ４月なのに竜巻が発生するなんて･･･
Tornadoes forming even though it’s still only April…
66. 愛してるよなんて。
Huh, I love you…
何て
Incidentally, 何て also exists in contexts in which it is NOT a particle. There are two environments in which this is the case. In these contexts, we see that spelling wise, 何て is often written with なん in kanji, which is not the case for the particle.
何て言う ＝ 何と言う
In colloquial speech, the quotative particle と frequently manifests as って. When combined with 何, one gets 何て.
67. 今、何て言ったんだろ･･･
What was it that (he) said now?
68. 名前は何ていうの。
What’s your name?
69. この漢字、何て読むの？
How do you read this Kanji?
70. こんな噂が広まってるなんて、上司が知ったら何て言うかな。
I wonder what the boss would say if he found out this sort of rumor was spreading.
71. 私、なんて事を！？
What have I done?!
何て ＝ 何と ＝ “Oh How…”
As an adverb, 何て still remains as a colloquial variant of 何と, but as an adverb which modifies a predicate, it has the emphatic meaning of “oh how…,” which strangely enough resembles the emotional flare that the particle なんて possesses.
72. カナダの冬って、本当になんて美しいんでしょう。
Oh how beautiful winter in Canada truly is!
73. うちのアパートの水道水、なんてまずいんだ。
The tap water at my apartment, it’s just awful.
74. なんてつまらないんだ！
How boring!
75. なんて、（冗談で）ね。
Just joking.
参照
「なんて」と「なんか」の分析 by 方韻.
- だ ellipsis is possible for nominal and adjectival noun predicates when なんて follows. By dropping だ, the declarative modality of the dependent clause it is a part of is removed, which affects なんて by making the statement sound more level-headed of a response. ↩︎
- など and なんて are, in fact, etymologically identical, which is why they have so much in common semantically and syntactically. ↩︎
- On the grounds of syntax, by utilizing だ in its metalinguistic capacity, it is able to fill the predicate slot in the dependent clause it occupies, which is what allows it to directly follow verbal/adjectival predicates, as those predicates are trapped inside だ, essentially. ↩︎