何なにが何なんだか

expression

what's what; heads or tails

Used to express confusion when one cannot make sense of a situation. Often followed by わからない or similar phrases.

• 説せつ明めいが複ふく雑ざつすぎて、何なにが何なんだかわからなかった。

  The explanation was too complicated; I couldn't make heads or tails of it.

• 突とつ然ぜんのことで、何なにが何なんだかさっぱりだ。

  It happened so suddenly that I have no idea what's going on.