also: なにぞ · なぞ
expression
Used as a pronoun meaning 'something', often in older or literary contexts. In modern Japanese, 何か (なにか) is more common.
何ぞ面白い話はないか。
Isn't there something interesting to talk about?
adverb
Adverbial use meaning 'why' or 'how', often rhetorical or exclamatory. Can express surprise or emphasis.
なんぞそんなことをしたのか。
Why did you do such a thing?
なんぞ知らん。
How would I know?
Alternate reading, somewhat more formal or emphatic; less common than なんぞ.
Contracted colloquial reading; often used in casual speech.
Combination of interrogative 何 (なに/なん) and emphatic particle ぞ. The contracted forms なんぞ and なぞ developed from なにぞ.