何なにかと

な

に

か

と

Common wordJLPTN2Freq.FrequencyTop 10,000

Meanings

in various ways; one way or another; in many ways

Used to express that something happens or is done in multiple, often unspecified, ways; implies a variety of actions or reasons. Often used with verbs like 世話になる, 迷惑をかける, or 気を使う.

彼かれには何なにかとお世せ話わになっている。
I am indebted to him in many ways.
引ひっ越こしの準じゅん備びで何なにかと忙いそがしい。
I'm busy with various things for the move.

See all 28 example sentences ›

Usage patterns

〈人ひと〉に何なにかとお世せ話わになるto receive various kinds of help from someone
近きん所じょの方かたには何なにかとお世せ話わになっています。
My neighbors have helped me out in various ways.
何なにかと忙いそがしいto be busy with all sorts of things
年ねん末まつは何なにかと忙いそがしくて休やすむ時じ間かんがない。
At the end of the year I'm busy with one thing or another and have no time to rest.
何なにかと気きを使つかうto be considerate in various ways
新あたらしい上じょう司しには何なにかと気きを使つかってしまう。
I find myself being considerate in various ways toward my new boss.
〈人ひと〉に何なにかと迷めい惑わくをかけるto cause someone various kinds of trouble
引ひっ越こしの準じゅん備びで家か族ぞくに何なにかと迷めい惑わくをかけてしまった。
I ended up causing my family various kinds of trouble while preparing to move.
何なにかと物もの入いりだto have all sorts of expenses
子こ供どもが生うまれると何なにかと物もの入いりになる。
Once a baby is born, there are all sorts of expenses.

Expressions

何なにかというとat every opportunity; whenever there is a chance; on the slightest pretext
何なにかと言いえばat every opportunity; whenever there is a chance; on the least pretext

Kanji

何what
彼he, that, the

Related words

なんだかんだN2
何だかんだ is colloquial and often carries a complaining or listing tone, while 何かと is a neutral adverb simply meaning 'in various ways'.
とかくN1
とかく is a slightly literary way of saying 'one way or another/somehow', close to 何かと but less common in casual speech.
いろいろN5
色々 is a general word for 'various' usable as noun or adverb, while 何かと specifically stresses multiple unspecified ways or reasons for something happening.

Written forms

何なにかと
Standard kanji spelling; the most common written form.
何なに彼かと
Rare alternative kanji spelling; not commonly used in modern writing.

Etymology

Compound of 何 (nani, 'what') + か (ka, interrogative particle) + と (to, quotative particle). The phrase literally means 'with what and what', evolving to mean 'in one way or another' or 'in various ways'.