何なんのかんばせあって

Meanings

how dare you; how could I; what nerve

rare term

Rhetorical expression of indignation or disbelief that someone has the audacity to do something. Often used with a following clause stating the action. Rare and literary; the more common equivalent is どの面下げて.

Kanji

何what
顔face, expression

Related words

どの面つら下さげて
More common and colloquial expression with the same meaning of 'how dare you'. 何のかんばせあって is rarer and more literary.

Written forms

何なんのかんばせあって
Standard kanji-kana mixed spelling for this fixed expression.
何なんの顔かんばせあって
Alternate spelling using 顔 for かんばせ; less common and may be confused with other readings.

Etymology

The expression is composed of 何の (what kind of) + かんばせ (face, countenance; an archaic word) + あって (having). Literally 'having what kind of face', it is a rhetorical question expressing that one has no right or shame to do something. The exact historical derivation is uncertain, but it follows a pattern of similar expressions using 面 (つら) or 顔 (かお).