The Word Nante

GavRo · 23 Jul 2010

Can someone please explain the meaning of the word "nante". I looked in jdict, but I don't really get the examples.

ガスをつけっぱなしにするなんて私も不注意でした。
It was careless of me to leave the gas on.

もう３マイルなんて歩けない。
Another three miles is more than I can walk.

人生なんて短い。
Life is very short.

君は鍵をなくすなんて不注意だったね。
It was careless of you to lose the key.

Thanks in advance.

Chidoriashi · 23 Jul 2010

GavRo said:
Can someone please explain the meaning of the word "nante". I looked in jdict, but I don't really get the examples.
ガスをつけっぱなしにするなんて私も不注意でした。
It was careless of me to leave the gas on.
もう３マイルなんて歩けない。
Another three miles is more than I can walk.
人生なんて短い。
Life is very short.
君は鍵をなくすなんて不注意だったね。
It was careless of you to lose the key.
Thanks in advance.

It is similar in English to the way we use the word "How" in a sentence like this.. "How stupid of me!" It just basically emphasizes your feelings about the dumb thing you did.

In the second sentence in about the miles.. the meaning is more like.. "no way".. like "There is no way I can walk another 3 miles"

The main thing to remember is to just think of it as an emphasizing word.. and then if you need to translate it in your head accordingly.

oh and when used with kanji it is typically a colloquial form for 何と（何と言いました？）（何て言ったの？）(What did you say?)

Toritoribe · 23 Jul 2010

Actually, those なんて is from などと/などとて. It's more likely "such as/such like" often with negative connotation.

Elizabeth · 23 Jul 2010

Toritoribe said:
Actually, those なんて is from などと/などとて.;-) It's more likely "such as/such like" often with negative connotation.

So Nante cannot be changed to nanka in cases of this usage ?

Toritoribe · 23 Jul 2010

Elizabeth said:
So Nante cannot be changed to nanka in cases of this usage ?

Case by case. なんか can't be used with the conclusive form(shuushikei, i.e., the dictionary and past form).

×ガスをつけっぱなしにするなんか私も不注意でした。

○もう３マイルなんか歩けない。

○人生なんか短い。

×君は鍵をなくすなんか不注意だったね。

○３マイル歩いたなんて嘘だ。
×３マイル歩いたなんか嘘だ。

GavRo · 26 Jul 2010

Thank you everyone, for your responses. I just got back to check this thread. Thanks for answering. I'd actually found the answer this morning while listening to JapanesePod101. Thank you all so much, you're all awesome.

The Word Nante

GavRo

後輩

Chidoriashi

In imagination land

Toritoribe

松葉解禁

Elizabeth

先輩

Toritoribe

松葉解禁

GavRo

後輩

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