なんと
Meanings
Interrogative adverb used before verbs of saying, reading, calling, thinking, doing, etc.; often corresponds to English 'what' or 'how' depending on the verb.
How do you read this kanji?
What should I tell him?
what a ...!; how ...!
Exclamatory use expressing surprise, admiration, or strong feeling about a degree or quality. Usually written in kana.
What a quiet night it is.
What an impressive house.
surprisingly; believe it or not; to one's amazement
Sentence adverb that introduces an unexpected or impressive fact; often has a newsy or emphatic feel. Usually written in kana.
Believe it or not, the tickets sold out in one minute.
Surprisingly, he turned the company around by himself.
Interjection used by itself or at the start of an utterance to show surprise, amazement, or admiration. Usually written in kana.
Wow! To think we'd meet in a place like this.
well, ...; so, ...
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.
"Well, will this do?" the old man confirmed.
Usage patterns
- 〈物〉を何と呼ぶwhat to call ~; what ~ is called
What do you call this flower in English?
- 何と〜だろうwhat a ...!; how ...! (exclaiming about a quality)
What a beautiful view!
- 何と、〜surprisingly, ...; believe it or not, ...
Surprisingly, he won without ever practicing.
- 何と！wow!; oh my! (standalone exclamation of surprise)
Wow! Is that really true?
Expressions· 11
- なんとかsomething; something or other; so-and-so · somehow; one way or another; manage to
- 何としてもno matter what; at all costs; by any means
- なんというhow ...!; what a ...! · nothing special; nothing worth mentioning · of what name; what is it called
- なんとでもwhatever; no matter what
- とかなんとかor something; or something like that; something or other