particle N3 common casual
なんて — things like ~ / the idea of ~ (citing dismissively)
なんて
Builds on など
Meaning
- ~ and the like / the idea of ~ / (saying) things like ~ — cites a word, phrase, or clause, usually with surprise, disbelief, or disdain
なんて is the spoken contraction of などと: it picks up something said or thought and colours it with feeling — disbelief, dismissal, or being impressed against one's will. Crucially it can quote a whole clause, not just a noun: 「やめる」なんて言わないで ('don't say things like "I quit"'); 試験なんて簡単だ ('exams and such are easy'). The attitude is the point — neutral citation uses と or という.
Key sentence
もう帰るなんて、早すぎるよ。
Leaving already? That's way too soon.
Formation
| Attaches to | Form | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Nouns, or quoted words / phrases / clauses | N / 〜(clause) + なんて | 嘘なんて / 知らなかったなんて |
Examples
あの人が犯人だったなんて、信じられない。
I can't believe that he was the culprit.
野菜なんて大嫌いだ。
Vegetables and the like — I hate them.
宝くじが当たるなんて、夢みたいだ。
Winning the lottery — it's like a dream.
Easily confused with
などと なんて *is* the casual contraction of などと; などと is the fuller, more neutral/written form for citing speech or thought ('saying things like ~'). なんか Both casual belittlers, but なんて can quote a phrase or clause (帰るなんて); なんか attaches to plain nouns and also works as a discourse filler. なんて (exclamatory) Same surface, different role: this citing なんて re-quotes something; the exclamatory なんて heads an adjective to mean 'how ~!' (なんてきれいな).
Notes
- Often trails into an unstated reaction: 私が悪いなんて… ('saying it's my fault…' — and the speaker's indignation is left hanging).
See なんて in real sentences
Jengo shows なんて the way you actually meet it: inside real Japanese sentences, so it sticks instead of staying an abstract rule.
Study it in JengoSources Compiled with reference to A Dictionary of Advanced Japanese Grammar.