Translation and Meaning of: 何て - nante
On this page, we will study the meaning of the Japanese word 何て (nante) and its translation into English. Let's see their different meanings, example phrases, explanations, etymology and the similar words.
Romaji: nante
Kana: なんて
Type: noun
L: jlpt-n1
Translation / Meaning: like what...!
Meaning in English: how...!;what...!
Definition: What: A word referring to something. An interrogative word used to ask about something or a situation.
Sumário
- Etymology
- Vocabulary
- Writing
- Phrases
Explanation and Etymology - (何て) nante
The expression 「何て」 (nante) is used in the Japanese language as a way to express surprise, appreciation, or disdain regarding something mentioned earlier. This word has a quite flexible use and can appear in various situations, from expressing astonishment to functioning as a connector in more complex sentences.
Etymologically, 「何て」 combines the kanji 「何」 (nani), which means "what," with the particle 「て」 (te), which in this context serves to connect the main expression to the speaker's feeling. Radicals associated with 「何」 include elements such as "person" and "interrogative," promoting the idea of questioning or astonishment. The combination of these elements aims to intensify the emotion or characteristic of what is being commented on.
In practice, we find 「何て」 inserted in sentences to emphasize characteristics or events emphatically. Common examples would be in the expression of emotions such as surprise or fascination, as seen in everyday situations. The expression is also similar to something like "what" or "like" in other languages, facilitating the construction of sentences that emphasize the generated content. It's worth highlighting variations such as "何てこと" (nante koto), which reinforce an even stronger feeling of astonishment!
Historically, similar words to 「何て」 emerged in ancient Japanese, when the language was evolving to incorporate expressive forms that reflected the culture and social hierarchy of the time. This evolution was driven by the need for more effective communication, integrating emotional nuances in both everyday and formal speech. Today, 「何て」 continues to represent a strong emotional touch in the language, facilitating expressions of surprise and admiration in social interactions.
Synonyms and similar words
- 何と (nanto) - How; what; what (used to express surprise or admiration)
- なんて (nante) - How; what; what (used to belittle or express disbelief)
- なにて (nanite) - What; used in a context of questioning or doubt.
Words related
Words with the same pronunciation: なんて nante
How to Write in Japanese - (何て) nante
See below a step-by-step guide on how to write the word by hand in Japanese (何て) nante:
Example Sentences - (何て) nante
Below are some example sentences:
Sukina tabemono wa nanidesu ka?
What's your favourite food?
What is your favorite food?
- 好きな (suki na) - means "favorite"
- 食べ物 (tabemono) - means "food"
- は (wa) - grammatical particle that indicates the topic of the sentence
- 何 (nani) - it means "what"
- ですか (desu ka) - a grammatical particle that indicates a polite question
Watashi no naisen bangou wa nan desu ka?
What is my internal extension number?
What is my extension number?
- 私 (watashi) - personal pronoun meaning "I" in Japanese
- の (no) - particle that indicates possession or relationship between two things
- 内線番号 (naisen bangou) - The expression that means "extension number" in Japanese.
- は (wa) - particle that indicates the topic of the sentence
- 何 (nani) - interrogative pronoun that means "what" in Japanese
- ですか (desu ka) - expression that indicates a formal question in Japanese
Shouchou suru mono wa nan desu ka?
What is the symbol?
- 象徴する - verb that means "symbolize"
- もの - noun meaning "thing"
- は - particle that indicates the topic of the sentence
- 何 - interrogative pronoun meaning "what"
- ですか - particle that indicates a formal question
Other words of the same type: noun
See other words from our dictionary that are also: noun
