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なんか / なんて
N3 GRAMMAR ⏱ 0s study 📖 0 today
nanka / nante
examples; modesty; make light of~
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🃏 Flashcard
なんか / なんて
nanka / nante
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examples; modesty; make light of~
N3
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📊 Pattern Stats
JLPT Level N3
Intermediate · Expressing nuance & contrast
Reading nanka / nante
Post ID 50880
Patterns today 0
0 / 10 daily goal
📝 Usage Notes

examples; modesty; make light of~

📖 How to use it

Marks something as unimportant, modest, or contemptible, softening or belittling the speaker's own or others' actions.

Attaches to Attach to the dictionary form of verbs, to nouns, or to the stem of な-adjectives. For い-adjectives, attach to the plain form. When attaching to a clause, place after the plain past or non-past form.

This pattern is used to express that the speaker considers something trivial, unworthy, or merely an example. It can convey modesty when referring to one's own abilities or actions, making the statement sound humble. It can also express contempt or disdain when referring to others' actions or things. The nuance is often 'just' or 'such a thing as.'

私なんか、まだまだです。
Watashi nanka, mada mada desu.
Someone like me is still far from good.
ご飯を食べるなんて、忙しくてできなかった。
Gohan o taberu nante, isogashikute dekinakatta.
I was so busy I couldn't even eat a meal.
この本なんて、全然面白くないよ。
Kono hon nante, zenzen omoshirokunai yo.
This book is not interesting at all.
Not など (nado) など is more formal and literary; なんか and なんて are colloquial and common in speech. なんて emphasizes surprise or contempt more strongly than なんか.
Register Colloquial and commonly used in casual conversation; なんて is slightly stronger in emotion, while なんか is also used in polite speech but still informal.
🎯 Quick Quiz
What does this grammar pattern mean or do?
なんか / なんて
📚 How to Master This Pattern
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Say It Aloud
Press Hear it and repeat なんか / なんて three times. Feel the rhythm — grammar patterns have a natural flow.
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Flip Before Reading
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Write Two Sentences
Compose two original sentences using なんか / なんて. One about yourself, one about something you see right now.
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Spaced Review
Save this pattern and revisit at 10 min, 1 day, 3 days. Production (writing) beats recognition for grammar.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
What does the grammar pattern なんか / なんて mean? ▼
Examples; modesty; make light of~
What JLPT level is なんか / なんて? ▼
Nihoner currently groups this pattern under JLPT N3 — Intermediate · Expressing nuance & contrast. Use the level label as study guidance rather than a prediction of what will appear on an exam.
How do you use なんか / なんて in a sentence? ▼
Attach なんか / なんて (nanka / nante) to the appropriate verb or noun form as described in the usage notes. Then try writing two original sentences — one about yourself and one about something around you.
Is なんか / なんて formal or casual Japanese? ▼
なんか / なんて is used in both casual and polite contexts. It appears frequently in everyday conversation, textbooks, and simple written materials.
How can I remember なんか / なんて long-term? ▼
Use the flashcard on this page for active recall — see the pattern, reconstruct the usage from memory, then flip. Follow with the 4-choice quiz to distinguish it from similar patterns. Review later the same day and again over the following days. Writing original sentences can help you practise using the pattern in context.