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Translation and Meaning of: 何と - nanto

On this page, we will study the meaning of the Japanese word 何と (nanto) and its translation into English. Let's see their different meanings, example phrases, explanations, etymology and the similar words.

Romaji: nanto

Kana: なんと

Type: adverb

L: jlpt-n1

何と

Translation / Meaning: what; as; everything that

Meaning in English: what;how;whatever

Definition: He describes what things, facts, situations, names, phrases, adjectives, etc. 'What can I say? It's so breathtaking.'

Table of Content
- Etymology
- Writing
- Synonyms
- Example Phrases

Explanation and Etymology - (何と) nanto

The expression 「何と」(nanto) in Japanese is used to convey surprise or admiration in the face of a situation. It often appears at the beginning of sentences to emphasize an impressive or unexpected occurrence. One of its main characteristics is the ability to express, concisely, the emotion associated with a discovery or impactful event.

Etymologically, 「何と」 is composed of two characters: 「何」 (nani), which means "what" or "which," and 「と」 (to), a particle with various functions, used here as an exclamatory form. The combination of these characters results in an expression that, although it can be literally interpreted as "what" or "how," acquires a more emotional meaning related to surprise.

This expression is quite versatile and can be found in various contexts within the Japanese language. For example, in everyday situations, like someone revealing unexpected news or when encountering an impressive piece of art. The word has a similar usage to "how" in its exclamatory function in other languages, allowing the speaker to share their surprise or amazement almost instantly.

Besides 「何と」, there are variations and contexts in which the expression can appear alongside other words, broadening its meaning. For example, 「何と素晴らしい」 (nanto subarashii) can be translated as "how wonderful," intensifying the feeling of admiration. This flexibility contributes to the expressive richness of the Japanese language, making it a powerful tool for emotional communication.

How to Write in Japanese - (何と) nanto

See below a step-by-step guide on how to write the word by hand in Japanese (何と) nanto:

Synonyms and similar words

There are different ways of expressing the idea of "He describes what things, facts, situations, names, phrases, adjectives, etc. 'What can I say? It's so breathtaking.'" in the Japanese language.

A way of saying "what; as; everything that" é "(何と) nanto".

Below is a list of Japanese words that have the same meaning or are a variation of the word. "(何と) nanto":

  • 何等 (nantou) - What type (with emphasis on indefinite)
  • 何か (nanika) - Something (undefined)
  • 何でも (nandemo) - Anything (without restrictions)
  • 何ぞ (nazo) - Once (in more formal or literary contexts)

SEARCH FOR MORE WORDS WITH THE SAME MEANING

Words related to: 何と

See also other related words from our dictionary:

何とか

Kana: なんとか

Romaji: nantoka

Meaning:

somehow; anyway; one way or another

何となく

Kana: なんとなく

Romaji: nantonaku

Meaning:

in some way or another; for some reason or another

何とも

Kana: なんとも

Romaji: nantomo

Meaning:

nothing (with black. verb); very; not a little

如何にも

Kana: いかにも

Romaji: ikanimo

Meaning:

in fact; really; expression that means agreement

何だか

Kana: なんだか

Romaji: nandaka

Meaning:

a little; somehow; in some way

何て

Kana: なんて

Romaji: nante

Meaning:

like what...!

どうにか

Kana: どうにか

Romaji: dounika

Meaning:

somehow or another; one way or another

だって

Kana: だって

Romaji: date

Meaning:

but; why; same; also; also

辛うじて

Kana: かろうじて

Romaji: karoujite

Meaning:

almost; almost; just managed to do st

一体

Kana: いったい

Romaji: ittai

Meaning:

An object; a body; what the hell?; serious?; generally

Words with the same pronunciation: なんと nanto

Example Sentences - (何と) nanto

Below are some example sentences:

何とかなる。

Nantoka naru

Everything will be fine.

Somehow.

  • Input - - indicates that the following word is what was entered into the system
  • 何とかなる - It's the phrase in Japanese that means "everything will be fine."
  • Output - - indicates that the following word is the answer or result of the system

何と言っていいか分からない。

Nanto itte ii ka wakaranai

I do not know what to say.

I do not know what to say.

  • 何と言っていいか - Japanese expression meaning "I don't know what to say"
  • 分からない - Japanese verb meaning "not to understand"

何とも言えない。

Nantomo ienai

I can't say anything about it.

I can't say anything.

  • 何とも言えない - Japanese expression meaning "indescribable" or "difficult to explain"

Other words of the same type: adverb

See other words from our dictionary that are also: adverb

何と