～なんか・～なんて
Make something sound casual, dismissive, or surprising
You’ll be able to mention something conversationally to downplay it, distance yourself from it, or react strongly to it.
私の料理なんか、簡単なものですよ。
watashi no ryouri nanka, kantan na mono desu yo.
What do you think this sentence means?
My cooking is nothing special.
Downplay or dismiss casually
～なんか and ～なんて are conversational expressions. They can downplay something modestly, or show a dismissive or surprised attitude.
虫なんて、全然怖くないよ。
mushi nante, zenzen kowakunai yo.
Bugs? They are not scary at all.
彼が結婚するなんて、びっくりしました。
kare ga kekkon suru nante, bikkuri shimashita.
I was surprised to hear that he is getting married.
Attach it to what you mention
For this use, attach なんか or なんて to a noun. なんか is very casual; なんて often sounds more emphatic, especially with surprise or disbelief. なんて can also follow a plain-clause content when reacting to it, as in 約束を忘れるなんて信じられない.
こんな難しい問題なんて、私には無理です。
konna muzukashii mondai nante, watashi ni wa muri desu.
A difficult problem like this is impossible for me.
弟は「ピーマンなんか食べたくない」と言って、お皿を向こうに押した。
otouto wa “piiman nanka tabetakunai” to itte, osara o mukou ni oshita.
My little brother said, “I don’t want to eat green peppers,” and pushed his plate away.
一人で富士山に登ったなんて、すごいですね。
hitori de fujisan ni nobotta nante, sugoi desu ne.
You climbed Mt. Fuji by yourself? That’s amazing.
「日本語がお上手ですね。」「いえいえ、私の日本語なんて、まだまだです。」
“nihongo ga ojouzu desu ne.” “ieie, watashi no nihongo nante, mada mada desu.”
“Your Japanese is very good.” “Oh no, my Japanese still has a long way to go.”
7 more examples in the grammar path — free for a limited time.