"nan" as a statement?

Kriffix · 28 Jul 2008

I continously hear "nan" used in statements...

"sugoi ookii nan desu"
"sou nan desu kedo..."

These examples are off the top of my head and so may be incorrect, but they're just a feeble attempt to strengthen my question since i can't seem to find any actual examples at the moment. does anyone recognise what i mean regardless?

I'm not sure why "nan" is used this way, does it not normally infer a question? can anyone please ellaborate?

Thanks very much!

Toritoribe · 28 Jul 2008

It's the euphonic change of なの(na no).
As for the first example, it's the same meaning as なもの(-na mono), "sugoi ookina/ookii no desu" is commonly used in standard Japanese, though. ("Sugoi ookina n desu" is a dialect mainly used in western Japan.)

hope this helps

Tomii515 · 28 Jul 2008

have you learn the 'n desu' form yet?

well, as for the second one, it's because "sou" is a -na adj. (isnt it? xD)

like.

-i adj: tanoshii n desu.
-na adj: shinsetsu na n desu.
noun: genki na n desu.

hmm... the -n desu form is like explaining things, i guess.

anyways, hope this helps

AJBryant · 28 Jul 2008

Tomii515 said:
hmm... the -n desu form is like explaining things, i guess.

Bingo.

That is *exactly* what it is. It's a "The thing is,..." or "Ya see,...."

Good job.

Tony

Elizabeth · 28 Jul 2008

Tomii515 said:
have you learn the 'n desu' form yet?
well, as for the second one, it's because "sou" is a -na adj. (isnt it? xD)
like.
-i adj: tanoshii n desu.
-na adj: shinsetsu na n desu.
noun: genki na n desu.
hmm... the -n desu form is like explaining things, i guess.
anyways, hope this helps

Nan can be simply an expression of emotion or emotional intensity as well. There are times when 好きなんだ is almost like 好きだ for instance. It doesn't necessarily imply a defensive sounding plea "because I like you -- that's why," although that is possible depending on the question and circumstances.

Kriffix · 28 Jul 2008

Thanks everyone, that was very helpful.

I'm actually familiar with "n desu" but was stupidly unable to put 2 and 2 together here haha.

so again thanks!

Tomii515 · 29 Jul 2008

AJBryant said:
Bingo.
That is *exactly* what it is. It's a "The thing is,..." or "Ya see,...."
Good job.
Tony

Was there really need for hurtful sarcasm?

Elizabeth · 29 Jul 2008

Kriffix said:
Thanks everyone, that was very helpful.
I'm actually familiar with "n desu" but was stupidly unable to put 2 and 2 together here haha.
so again thanks!

"N desu" with verbs can be slightly different.
These are two threads with a nice summary (if you get through it) I always recommend coming back to before proceeding any further.

The "redundant" "n" before "da" and "desu"
na no desu?

AJBryant · 29 Jul 2008

Tomii515 said:
Was there really need for hurtful sarcasm?

Where was the sarcasm?

I *meant* that.

Sheesh

Toritoribe · 29 Jul 2008

Elizabeth said:
"N desu" with verbs can be slightly different.
These are two threads with a nice summary (if you get through it) I always recommend coming back to before proceeding any further.

The "redundant" "n" before "da" and "desu"
na no desu?

Very useful! Thanks, Elizabeth.

The explanation to the first example in my previous post is for the nominalizer "no". For the "emotional" expression, it should be "sugoi ookii n desu". I mean, "sugoi ookii no desu" has different meaning to "sugoi ookii n desu" (depending on context, of course).

どれくらい大きいの？
Dore kurai ookii no?
すごい大きいんです。
Sugoi ookii n desu.

Like the explanation in those linked threads, this emotional "no" can be omitted. (The meaning basically does not change.) So you can also answer "sugoi ookii desu" to the question.

すごい大きいのとすごい小さいのとではどっちを選ぶ？
Sugoi ookii no to sugoi chiisai no to de wa docchi wo erabu?
すごい大きいのです。
Sugoi ookii no desu.

On the other hand, this "no" can't be omitted. (This "no" is not the nominalizer but the pronoun, though.) The nominalizer/pronoun "no" hardly changes to "n" at least in standard Japanese.

大きいのと小さいのとどっちにする？
Ookii no to Chiisai no to docchi ni suru?
大きなんがいいです。
Ookina n ga ii desu.

I (born and living in western Japan) often use this "n".

Tomii515 · 30 Jul 2008

AJBryant said:
Where was the sarcasm?
I *meant* that.
Sheesh

k.

btw, in ur location as NE virginia, would that be north east VA?
im move to a city/town thing in ne va

hooray.

AJBryant · 30 Jul 2008

Yeah, I live near Alexandria. Virginia's a great place, especially if you're into history.

Tomii515 · 31 Jul 2008

AJBryant said:
Yeah, I live near Alexandria. Virginia's a great place, especially if you're into history.

Ah really? kool. me too. My town's like west i think. ilooked it up on google maps, an it seems to only take like maybe 20 mintues or something to get there.

p.s. i hate history LOL

Elizabeth said:
Nan can be simply an expression of emotion or emotional intensity as well. There are times when 好きなんだ is almost like 好きだ for instance. It doesn't necessarily imply a defensive sounding plea "because I like you -- that's why," although that is possible depending on the question and circumstances.

ahh okay
thanks

"nan" as a statement?

Kriffix

Aspiring Manga-ka

Toritoribe

松葉解禁

Tomii515

やった～！

AJBryant

先輩

Elizabeth

先輩

Kriffix

Aspiring Manga-ka

Tomii515

やった～！

Elizabeth

先輩

AJBryant

先輩

Toritoribe

松葉解禁

Tomii515

やった～！

AJBryant

先輩

Tomii515

やった～！

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