何なんとも

な

ん

と

も

Common wordJLPTN2Freq.FrequencyTop 10,000

Meanings

1

adverb

really; very; extremely

Used to emphasize a degree or feeling, often with adjectives or verbs expressing inability to describe something adequately. Common in phrases like 何とも言えない (indescribable).

その景色けしきは何

なん

と

も

美うつく

しかっ

た

。

The scenery was really beautiful.

彼かれの言いい分ぶんは何なんとも理り解かいしがたい。

His argument is extremely hard to understand.

2

adverb

(not) at all; (not) anything; (not) a bit

Used with a negative verb to mean 'not at all' or 'nothing in particular'. Often appears as 何ともない (nothing is wrong) or 何とも思わない (don't think anything of it).

彼かれの言こと葉ばは何なんとも思おもわなかった。
I didn't think anything of his words.
この料りょう理りは何なんとも言いえない味あじだ。
This dish has an indescribable taste.

Usage patterns

何なんとも〈形けい容よう詞し〉really/very [adjective] (emphasizing a feeling hard to fully express)
優ゆう勝しょうできて何なんとも嬉うれしい気き持もちだ。
Winning the championship makes me feel really happy.
何なんとも思おもわないto not think anything of it; to not care at all
彼かれはその批ひ判はんを何なんとも思おもわないようだ。
He doesn't seem to care about the criticism at all.

Expressions

なんともないit's nothing; no problem; I'm fine; safe and sound
何なんとも言いえないindescribable; inexpressible; unspeakable; indefinable; nobody can tell

Kanji

何what

Related words

どうもN4
どうも is casual and can mean 'somehow' or serve as a thanks-expression, while 何とも is more formal and stresses degree or total negation.
全ぜん然ぜんN5sense 2
全然 is a plain, everyday 'not at all' with negatives, while 何とも adds a nuance of 'nothing in particular' or indescribability.
少すこしもN3sense 2
少しも emphasizes 'not even a little' in a straightforward way, whereas 何とも in negative sentences often implies 'nothing worth mentioning'.
とてもN4sense 1
とても is a general intensifier for adjectives ('very'), while 何とも in its emphatic sense usually appears with expressions of inability to describe, like 何とも言えない.

Don't confuse with

なんでもN3
何でも means 'anything/whatever', while 何とも (similar in form) means 'not at all' or 'really/very' and is not interchangeable with it.

Etymology

Compound of 何 (what) + とも (even, also). The combination yields 'no matter what' or 'in any way', which developed into an intensifier and a negative polarity item.