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なんと (nanto) Japanese meaning: what | Kotomora
じ 字
Meanings Jump to a sense… 1. what; how 2. what a ...!; how ...! 3. surprisingly; believe it or not; to one's amazement 4. wow; oh my 5. well, ...; so, ... Report an issue with this page
よ
み
ます
か
。
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Usage patterns 〈 物もの 〉 を 何なん と 呼よ ぶ what to call ~; what ~ is called
What do you call this flower in English?
何なん と 〜 だろう what a ...!; how ...! (exclaiming about a quality)
何なん と 、 〜 surprisingly, ...; believe it or not, ...
Surprisingly, he won without ever practicing.
何なん と ！ wow!; oh my! (standalone exclamation of surprise)
Wow! Is that really true?
Expressions· 11 なんとか something; something or other; so-and-so · somehow; one way or another; manage to 何なん としても no matter what; at all costs; by any means なんという how ...!; what a ...! · nothing special; nothing worth mentioning · of what name; what is it called なんとでも whatever; no matter what とかなんとか or something; or something like that; something or other Show 4 more 何なん とかして somehow or other; by some means なんとかなる manage somehow; work out one way or another なんともない it's nothing; no problem; I'm fine; safe and sound なんというか how should I put it?; what shall I say?; well, you know; like See all 11 in Explore →
Related words 何て is a casual, spoken-style variant of 何と used for exclamations like 'what a...!', while 何と can sound more formal, written, or dramatic.
何と is a shorter exclamatory word meaning 'how...!' similar to 何という, but it can stand alone before an adjective without という, giving a slightly more abrupt, punchy feel.
Don't confuse with どう is the general question word for 'how' asking about manner or method, whereas 何と specifically attaches to verbs of saying, calling, or reading and often carries surprise or emphasis.
まさか expresses disbelief or 'surely not', while 何と introduces a fact with admiration or surprise without denying it.
Word family really; very; extremely · (not) at all; (not) anything; (not) a bit
somehow; for some reason
for some reason; somehow · whatsitsname; what-you-call-it; Mr. so-and-so · and so on; and the like
because; the reason is that
Written forms なんと Usage 100%
Kana spelling is especially usual for the surprise, admiration, and interjectional uses; it is also common in ordinary writing.
何なん と
Kanji spelling; especially clear for the literal interrogative use of 何 plus と, as in 何と読む. Exclamatory uses are often written in kana.
Etymology Formed from 何 meaning 'what' plus と, the quotative/adverbial particle. The interrogative sense is transparent; the surprise and exclamatory uses developed from this 'what/how' expression, though the precise historical path is not specified.
何なん とはなしに
for no particular reason; somehow or other; without thinking
