Translation and Meaning of: 何て - nante

The Japanese word 何て (なんて) is one of those expressions that frequently appears in everyday conversations but can cause confusion for those learning the language. Its meaning and use vary depending on the context, and it can express surprise, disdain, or even emphasis in a sentence. In this article, we will explore what 何て means, how it is used in the Japanese language, and some curiosities about its application in different situations.

If you've ever watched Japanese anime or dramas, you've probably heard this word being used in fast and expressive dialogues. Understanding its functioning helps not only to better comprehend spoken Japanese but also to communicate more naturally. Let's uncover everything from its origin to practical usage examples, all in a simple and straightforward manner.

Meaning and usage of 何て (なんて)

何て is a particle that can have different nuances depending on the context. In many cases, it carries a tone of surprise or disdain, as in phrases like "何て美しい！" (How beautiful!). Here, it intensifies the adjective, conveying admiration. On the other hand, in constructions like "彼の言ったことなんて気にしないで" (Don't worry about what he said), the word takes on a more derogatory tone, minimizing the importance of what was mentioned.

Another common use of 何て is in rhetorical or exclamatory questions, especially when the speaker wants to express disbelief. For example: "何てこと！" (What a thing!). In this case, the word helps convey a strong emotional reaction, whether of astonishment, indignation, or even happiness. It is precisely this versatility that makes 何て so prevalent in colloquial Japanese.

Origin and structure of 何て

The word 何て is formed by the kanji 何 (which means "what" or "which") followed by the particle て. This combination is not exclusive – it shares roots with other interrogative expressions, such as 何で (why) and 何と (in what way). The difference lies in the application: while 何で asks about reasons and 何と about methods, 何て usually appears in more emotional or exclamatory contexts.

It's interesting to note that, although it is written with kanji in some cases, 何て often appears in hiragana (なんて) in everyday language. This happens because its use is more common in speech than in formal writing, where other constructions may be preferred. This flexibility between kanji and hiragana is typical of various particles and colloquial expressions in Japanese.

Curiosities and tips for memorization

An effective way to fix the meaning of 何て is to associate it with memorable scenes from animes or dramas where it appears. Characters often use it in dramatic or comedic moments, which helps to imprint its emotional tone. Another tip is to practice with short everyday phrases, such as "何てこった！" (What a bummer!) or "何て可愛い！" (How cute!), to get accustomed to its variations in use.

It's important to remember that 何て should not be confused with similar words like 何で (nande) or 何と (nanto). While those have more specific functions (asking for reasons or ways, respectively), 何て is more related to reactions and emphasis. Paying attention to these details avoids common mistakes among Japanese learners.

Vocabulary

Expand your vocabulary with related words:

Synonyms and similar words

• 何と (nanto) - How; what; what (used to express surprise or admiration)
• なんて (nante) - How; what; what (used to belittle or express disbelief)
• なにて (nanite) - What; used in a context of questioning or doubt

何て

Romaji: nante
Kana: なんて
Type: noun
L: jlpt-n1

Translation / Meaning: like what...!

Meaning in English: how...!;what...!

Definition: What: A word that refers to something. An interrogative word used to ask about something or a situation.

Example Sentences - (何て) nante

See below some example sentences:

このプロジェクトのテーマは何ですか？

Kono purojekuto no tēma wa nan desu ka?

What is the theme of this project?

• この - demonstrative pronoun that means "this" or "this here"
• プロジェクト - noun meaning "project"
• の - Particle indicating possession or relationship
• テーマ - noun meaning "theme"
• は - Particle indicating the topic of the sentence
• 何 - interrogative pronoun that means "what"
• ですか - polite way to ask in Japanese

私の生年月日は何ですか？

Watashi no seinen gappi wa nan desu ka?

What is my date of birth?

What is my date of birth?

• 私 - Japanese personal pronoun that means "I"
• の - Japanese particle that indicates possession or relationship
• 生年月日 - Japanese compound noun meaning "date of birth"
• は - Japanese particle indicating the subject of the sentence
• 何 - Japanese interrogative pronoun meaning "what"
• ですか - Japanese expression indicating a polite question

根気があれば何でもできる。

Konki ga areba nandemo dekiru

with perseverance

You can do anything if you're patient.

• 根気 (konki) - perseverance, patience
• が (ga) - subject particle
• あれば (areba) - if any
• 何でも (nan demo) - anything, everything
• できる (dekiru) - be able to do, achieve

彼の好きな食べ物は何ですか？

Kare no suki na tabemono wa nan desu ka?

What is his favorite food?

What's your favourite food?

• 彼の - his
• 好きな - adjective "favorite"
• 食べ物 - Noun "food"
• は - Topic particle
• 何 - interrogative pronoun "what"
• ですか - interrogative particle

将来の夢は何ですか？

Shourai no yume wa nan desu ka?

What is your dream for the future?

What is your future dream?

• 将来 (shourai) - future
• の (no) - Possession particle
• 夢 (yume) - Dream
• は (wa) - Topic particle
• 何 (nani) - what
• ですか (desu ka) - polite way of asking

このプロジェクトの成功の基準は何ですか？

Kono purojekuto no seikō no kijun wa nan desu ka?

What is the success criterion of this project?

What are the successful criteria for this project?

• この - demonstrative pronoun meaning "this" or "this"
• プロジェクト - noun meaning "project"
• の - possessive particle that indicates ownership or belonging
• 成功 - noun meaning "success"
• の - possessive particle that indicates ownership or belonging
• 基準 - noun meaning "criterion" or "standard"
• は - topic particle indicating the main subject of the sentence
• 何 - interrogative pronoun that means "what"
• です - auxiliary verb indicating a polite or polished way of speaking
• か - interrogative particle indicating a question
• ？ - punctuation mark that indicates a question

この箱の中身は何ですか？

Kono hako no nakami wa nan desu ka?

What is the content of this box?

What is the content of this box?

• この - demonstrative that indicates proximity, "this"
• 箱 - noun that means "box"
• の - particle that indicates possession, "da"
• 中身 - noun that means "content"
• は - particle that indicates the topic of the sentence, "about"
• 何 - interrogative pronoun that means "what"
• ですか - expression that indicates a polite question, "what is it?"

この問題の解答は何ですか？

Kono mondai no kaitō wa nan desu ka?

What is the answer to this problem?

What is the answer to this problem?

• この - demonstrative indicating proximity, in this case "this"
• 問題 - noun meaning "problem"
• の - particle indicating possession, in this case "of"
• 解答 - noun meaning "answer" or "solution"
• は - particle that indicates the topic of the sentence, in this case, "about"
• 何 - interrogative pronoun that means "what"
• です - Verb "to be" in polite form
• か - Particle that indicates a question

この本のジャンルは何ですか？

Kono hon no janru wa nan desu ka?

What is the genre of this book?

• この - demonstrative meaning "this"
• 本 - noun meaning "book"
• の - possessive particle indicating that the book belongs to someone or something
• ジャンル - noun meaning "gender"
• は - particle that marks the topic of the sentence
• 何 - interrogative pronoun that means "what"
• です - Verb "to be" in polite form
• か - interrogative particle indicating a question

このものは何ですか？

Kono mono wa nan desu ka?

What is it?

What is this thing?

• この - demonstrative pronoun "this"
• もの - noun "thing"
• は - Topic particle
• 何 - interrogative pronoun "what"
• です - Verb "to be" in polite form
• か - interrogative particle