なんて
Japanese[edit]
Etymology 1[edit]
A contraction of phrase 等 (nado, “and so forth, etc.”) + とて (tote, particle combination indicating “that kind of thing”, from と to, quotative particle + て te, conjunctive particle).[1]
Some sources describe this as a shift from 等 (nado) + と (to),[2][3][4] or from 等 (nado) + と (to) + は (wa, topic particle),[4] or even just from 等 (nado),[4] but the phonetic shift in the final vowel from -o or -a to -e is unexplainable in these hypotheses.
Pronunciation[edit]
Particle[edit]
- (adverbial particle, dismissive, derogatory) emphasizes disgust, contempt, or otherwise negative feelings of the speaker: whatever
- お前なんてどうでもいい。
- Omae nante dō de mo ii.
- Whatever.
- お前なんてどうでもいい。
Usage notes[edit]
- See なんか (nanka).
Synonyms[edit]
Etymology 2[edit]
| Alternative spelling |
|---|
| 何て |
Sources describe this as a sound shift from the phrase 何と言う (nan to iu, compare English constructions whatever kind of; what a ..., literally “what's it called; what a ...”).[2][1][3][4] There is evidence of a form nantē,[2] suggesting a fusion of vowel sounds, where the phonetic development may have proceeded as follows:
/nan to iu/ → /nantɔiu/ → /nantee/ → /nante/
Pronunciation[edit]
Adverb[edit]
- what a, such a
- なんて美しい美女だな。
- Nante utsukushii bijo da na.
- What a beautiful woman.
- なんてことない
- nante koto nai
- a walk in the park; nothing
- なんて美しい美女だな。
- what (used quotatively)
- ね、昨日お前なんて言ってたんだっけ。
- Ne, kinō omae nante itte ta n da kke.
- Hey, what was it you were saying yesterday?
- これなんて読む？
- Kore nante yomu?
- How do you say this?
- これって何て名前？
- Kore tte nante namae?
- What is this called?
- ね、昨日お前なんて言ってたんだっけ。
References[edit]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Matsumura, Akira, editor (2006), 大辞林 (in Japanese), Third edition, Tōkyō: Sanseidō, →ISBN
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Shōgaku Tosho (1988) 国語大辞典（新装版） [Unabridged Dictionary of Japanese (Revised Edition)] (in Japanese), Tōkyō: Shogakukan, →ISBN
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Matsumura, Akira (1995) 大辞泉 (in Japanese), First edition, Tōkyō: Shogakukan, →ISBN
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 Kindaichi, Kyōsuke et al., editors (1997), 新明解国語辞典 (in Japanese), Fifth edition, Tōkyō: Sanseidō, →ISBN