なんか

Japanese

Particle

なんか (kanji 何か, romaji nanka)

1. (Adverbial particle emphasizing disgust, contempt, or otherwise negative feelings of the speaker.)

   なんか (nanka) can follow a noun:

   • 助言なんか要らない。

     じょげんなんかいらない。

     Jogen nanka iranai.

     I don't need any of your (damn) advice.

   なんか (nanka) can follow a verb:

   • 泳ぐなんかできない。

     およぐなんかできない。

     Oyogu nanka dekinai.

     I can't swim.

   なんか (nanka) can follow an adjective:

   • 大きくなんかないけど、きれいだ。

     おおきくなんかないけど、きれいだ。

     Ōkiku nanka nai kedo, kirei da.

     It's not big [or anything], but it's clean.

Usage notes

なんか (nanka) is usually followed by a verb which conveys some kind of undervalue, lacking, or dislike, often in the negative.

なんか (nanka) can immediately follow i-adjectives, using the adjective's ku form if followed by the negative, or if the adjective is followed by no. Na-adjectives require the copula da or no before nanka.

Synonyms

• なんて (slightly more formal)

Noun

なんか (romaji nanka)

1. 軟化: softening, mollification
2. 南下: going south