The Particle なんて
The particle なんて is similar to なんか and など because all three particles can be used to euphemize what they follow. However, the practical situations in which they are used can be very different. When it comes to how なんて is used, the tone that it gives is far more emphatic than the other two can ever be. It also brings about unique grammar that the other two don’t.
In this lesson, we will focus solely on なんて to see how it’s used. Ultimately, it is easier to learn this particle separately so that you don’t confuse it with things that can occasionally be used similarly but not ultimately bring about the same nuance.
How to Use なんて
Grammatically speaking, なんて can pretty much following anything. One reason for this is that it is partially composed of って, which you should understand as one of the most common means of citation in speech. The なん, as you can imagine, comes from 何. This provides major context to how the phrase generally works. It’s emphatic; it’s subjective; it’s there to draw some form of attention.
なんて can pretty much follow anything. It can be seen after nouns, adjectives, adjectival nouns, verbs, as well as full statements. Interestingly enough, as you will soon see, the copula だ can actually intervene at times to add even more dramatic effect to what’s being referred. The “referring” aspect makes だ’s role akin to that of a citation particle like って, drawing upon the literal breakdown of なんて itself.
| Part of Speech | Example |
| With Nouns | 恋（だ）なんて |
| With Adjectives | おかしい（だ）なんて |
| With Adjectival Nouns | 新鮮（だ）なんて |
| With Verbs | 行く（だ）なんて |
| With Sentences | 本当に好きだよなんて |
Although overall it is fair to say that なんて is used in mostly negative situations, it is not limited to this. Regardless of whether the statement is positive or negative, it will euphemize whatever it follows. This euphemizing can then have a belittling, critical, or supportive tone depending on the sentence.
1. 彼女、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.
2. 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.
3. もう、健太君なんて知らないわ！
I don’t know you anymore, Kentaro!
4. 私なんてまだまだです。
I still have a long way to go.
5. アライグマなんて怖くないよ。
There’s nothing scary about raccoons!
6. バスク語なんて簡単さ。
Basque is just easy!
7. 野球なんてちょっと詰まらなくない？
Isn’t baseball a little boring?
8. 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.
9. 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.
10. 人間なんて脆いものなんでしょうね。
People really are weak things, aren’t they?
11. セス先生なんて聞いたことねー。
I’ve never heard of this Seth-sensei.
12. 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!
13. なんで試験なんてやるんだろ。
Why is it that we do exams anyway?
14. お金なんて要らない！
I don’t need any money!
15. 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.
16. 本来白いはずのものが赤いなんてちょっと神秘（的）だよね。
Something that’s originally supposed to be white being red is a little mysterious, isn’t it?
17. 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.
18. 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 beginning to be scary.
19. 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.
20. 図々しいだなんて、とんでもございません。
It’s absolutely not audacious (of him).
21. 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.
22. 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?
23. 日常会話が簡単（だ）なんて嘘だよ！
It’s a complete lie that daily conversation is easy!
24. 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!?
25. 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.
26. 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.
27. 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).
28. 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.
29. 重要な会議に遅刻するなんて、許せない。
It’s unforgiveable to be late to an important meeting.
30. 行くなんて言ってないよ。
I’m not saying that I’m going.
31. 子供の猿も次の年に子をたくさん産むなんてことはできない。
The young monkeys can’t also give birth to a lot of offspring the next year.
32. この猿ちゃん、子をたくさん産むことなんてできないもん。
This little monkey, there’s no way it can give birth to a lot of offspring.
33. 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.
34. 禿げるのなんて絶対嫌だ！
Going bald would just be absolutely awful!
35. 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?
36. 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?
37. 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.
38. 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.
39. 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!
40. 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.
41. 呼び捨てか、さん付けかなんて考える余裕はなかった。
There was no leeway to ponder whether to address him with or without an honorific.
As a Final Particle
To the same effect as above, you can also find なんて at the end of a sentence/statement to show utter surprise/disbelief. Depending on the tone, this may be used in ridicule as well.
42. どうして急にお酒なんて･･･
Why alcohol all so suddenly?
43. まさか、和睦の道を選ぶなんて･･･
Wow, to think (they’re) choosing the path of reconciliation…
44. お正月がこんなに大変（だ）なんて･･･
To think New Year’s would be this intense…
45. どちらも本物だなんて。
Both are the real thing?!
46. 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….
47. 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…
48. 愛してるよなんて。
Huh, I love you…
49. あいつが「竹島は実は独島だと主張してる」なんてもっぱらの噂だよ。
The persistent rumor is that he “claims Takeshima is Dokdo”.
Culture Note: 竹島 is a group of islands in the Sea of Japan called the “Liancourt Rocks” in English. However, the islands are under territorial dispute with Korea. Japan claims they’re part of 島根県 (Shimane Prefecture). However, Korea claims them as theirs under the name 独島.
With the Copula や
The particle なんて does not follow the copula や, however, which is used in dialects like 関西弁 instead of だ.
50a. 東京弁：買ってあげる（だ）なんて言っていない。〇
50b. 京都弁：買うたげるなんて言うてへん。〇
50c. 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.
何て
As you may have already noticed and as was alluded to earlier, you can also view なんてas being equivalent to などと言って・何と言って. As you can see in the following sentences, spelling it as 何て is possible when it used more literally.
51. 今、何て言ったんだろ･･･
What was it that (he) said now?
52. 名前は何ていうの。
What’s your name?
53. この漢字、何て読むの？
How do you read this Kanji?
54. 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.
55. 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.
56. 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.
Sentence Note: In Ex. 56, you could interpret なんて as being the same as などと言う.
57. 旦那なんて呼ばれる身分じゃない！
I’m not in the position to be called “husband”!
58. 「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.
59. 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.
60. 私、なんて事を！
What have I done!
Oh How…
Lastly, it is also important to note that なんて can be used in its own set phrases (Ex. 64) as well as an adverb meaning “oh how…,” in which case it is synonymous with 何と (Exs. 61-63).
61. 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!
62. 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.
63. なんてつまらないんだ！
How boring!
64. なんて、（冗談で）ね。
Just joking.