Meaning
なんて is used after nouns to indicate examples (similar to とか or など), express contempt or modesty toward something, or convey surprise and unexpectedness. It can follow various parts of speech including verbs in plain form, i-adjectives, na-adjectives with だ, and nouns with だ. The nuance depends on context: casual listing of examples, dismissive attitude toward the mentioned item, or astonishment at an unexpected situation.
Formation
| Part of speech | Formation |
|---|---|
| 动词普通形 | なんて |
| い形容词 | なんて |
| な形容词 だ | なんて |
| 名词 だ | なんて |
Examples
-
あの有名なバスケットボール選手に会えるなんて、思ってもみなかった。
I never thought I would actually get to meet that famous basketball player. -
田中さんの誕生日のお祝いにかばんなんてどうですか。
How about getting a bag or something like that as a gift for Tanaka's birthday? -
ぼくはお金なんていらない。ただ事故の原因をはっきりと説明して欲しいんだ。
I don't need money or anything. I just want you to clearly explain the cause of the accident.
Summary
- Use なんて to list examples similar to とか or など in casual speech
- Express dismissal or modesty by using なんて with things you're downplaying or refusing
- Convey surprise or disbelief at an unexpected situation or rare occurrence