なんと

な

ん

と

Common wordJLPTN2Freq.FrequencyTop 10,000

Meanings

adverb

what; how

Interrogative adverb used before verbs of saying, reading, calling, thinking, doing, etc.; often corresponds to English 'what' or 'how' depending on the verb.

この漢かん字じは何なんと読よみますか。
How do you read this kanji?
彼かれには何なんと説せつ明めいすればいいでしょう

か

。

What should I tell him?

adverb

what a ...!; how ...!

usually written using kana alone

Exclamatory use expressing surprise, admiration, or strong feeling about a degree or quality. Usually written in kana.

なんと静しずかな夜よるだろう。
What a quiet night it is.
なんと立りっ派ぱな家いえなんでしょう。
What an impressive house.

adverb

surprisingly; believe it or not; to one's amazement

usually written using kana alone

Sentence adverb that introduces an unexpected or impressive fact; often has a newsy or emphatic feel. Usually written in kana.

そのチケットは、なんと一いっ分ぷんで売うり切きれた。
Believe it or not, the tickets sold out in one minute.
彼かれはなんと一人ひとりで会かい社しゃを立たて直なおした。
Surprisingly, he turned the company around by himself.

interjection

wow; oh my

usually written using kana alone

Interjection used by itself or at the start of an utterance to show surprise, amazement, or admiration. Usually written in kana.

なんと！こんな場ば所しょで会あうとは。
Wow! To think we'd meet in a place like this.

interjection

well, ...; so, ...

usually written using kana alone

A sentence-opening interjection used when seeking confirmation, approval, or assent. This use is uncommon in modern everyday speech and sounds old-fashioned or literary.

「なんと、これでよろしいかな」と老ろう人じんは確かく認にんした。
"Well, will this do?" the old man confirmed.

Written forms

なんとUsage100%
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.

Kanji

何what

Similar words

何なんて
Also used for exclamation such as 'what a ...!' and is often more casual; なんと can sound more emphatic, written, or dramatic.
どう
A general 'how' question word. 何と is used in patterns involving wording, naming, reading, or exclamatory emphasis.
まさか
Expresses disbelief or 'surely not'; なんと introduces surprise or admiration without necessarily denying the fact.

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.