Japanese Language Lesson 106 なんか / nanka / a particle that makes things sound less important, somehow

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Episode Transcript

(00:02):
こ ん に ち は、 ウ ェ ル ク の み き で す。 I am National Research for
Japanese language instructor andspecializing teaching Japanese
to global corporate employees today。
we exploring a very common but optimist understood Japanese
world。 nanka this small word has two
distinct meanings that can completely change the tone of
your sentence。 the word nanka can either make

(00:26):
something sound less important or express uncertainty。
Making IT essential to understand both uses for natural
Japanese Communication、 by the end of this episode you
understand how to use nanka to downplay、 or minimize something、
and as an expression meaning、 somehow、 or、 for some reason で は

(00:47):
始 め ま し ょ う。 the word nanka is actually a
contracted form of nanica、 whichmeans something、 however、 in
modern Japanese。 Nanka has developed two very
different uses that go beyond its original meaning your
encounter、 nanka most often in two main situations first as a

(01:12):
particle that makes something sound less important modest or
even in significant second as another group meaning、 somehow for
some reason or kind of。 When you can't explain this
actually why you fail a certain way let's explore the first use

(01:34):
of nanka as a particle that makes things sound less
important with clear examples。 when nanka is used this way IT
makes a speaker sound modest or makes something seem less
important than IT actually is。 this is common in Japanese
culture。 where humility is valued for

(01:55):
example？ 私 な ん か ま だ ま だ で す。
means someone like me still far from good enough、 here な ん か。
after 私 makes the speaker sound humble、 and dismissive of their
own abilities、 you might also hear、 テ レ ビ な ん か な く て も い い で

(02:16):
す。 meaning、 we don't、 need、
something like、 television、 or television、 and such things
aren't necessary in this case。 Nanka makes television sound
unimportant or dismissible another、 common example is お 金 な
ん か ど う で も い い。 meaning、 money、 and things like

(02:40):
that don't matter the speaker isdismissing。
the importance of money when youuse nanka this way you are often
expressing that something is notworse much consideration or that
it's beneath your concern。 This use of nanka often appears
with Words like 私 あ な た こ れ そ れ or specific nouns that the

(03:08):
speaker wants to make sound lessimportant it's important to be
careful with this usage because IT can Sometimes sound root if
you use inappropriately with people or things such should be
respected。 the second use of。
Nanka expresses vake failings orimpressions that are difficult

(03:28):
to explain clearly when nanka means somehow、 or for some
reason IT usually appears at thebeginning of a sentence or
before the main verb for exampleな ん か 今 朝 か ら 頭 が 痛 い means
somehow I've heard the headachessince this morning or for some

(03:52):
reason。 My head has been hurting since
this morning the speaker contextSprings actually why their head
Hurts？ you might also hear な ん か う ま く
い く 気 が す る。 meaning、 somehow、 I have a
failing。 IT will go well or for some
reason I think IT will work out this shows the speaker has an

(04:17):
intuitive failing、 but can't explain the logical reason
behind IT。 Another example is な ん か 変 だ ね。
meaning、 something seems strange、 or it's、 somehow weird
the speaker、 sense is something is not right、 but can't

(04:37):
pinpoint、 exactly what IT is this use of nanka is very
natural in casual conversation when you want to express
failings hunches or impressions that you can't fully explain。
IT makes you Japanese sound morenatural and conversational、
because IT shows you are expressing general in
spontaneous thoughts understanding、 which nanka you

(05:02):
are hearing or using is crucial for proper Communication。
the first type of nanka usually comes directory after a noun and
makes that nouns on the less important the basic pattern is
noun Plus nanka。 Examples include 私 な ん か あ の 人 な

(05:25):
ん か or 宿 題 な ん か。 there's also a common pattern
with people where nanka comes out to particles like to or 二
for example、 あ の 人 と な ん か with someone like that person or 彼 に

(05:46):
な ん か to someone like him。 This pattern is often used to
show you don't want to associatewith someone or that you
consider them unversy of your time or attention the somehow
nanka usually comes at the beginning per sentence or before
describing a failing or situation the pattern is nanka

(06:09):
Plus saving or situation examples include な ん か 疲 れ た。
な ん か 心 配。 Or な ん か わ か ら な い。
context and tone are also important clues the first type
of nanka often has a modest or slightly negative tone、 while

(06:32):
somehow nanka has a more neutralthoughtful tone as a speaker、
tries to express something they can't fully explain let's
practice。 translating these English
sentences into Japanese using nanka。
I'll give you the English sentence then post for you to
think about IT and then share the Japanese translation one I

(06:56):
don't want to have dinner with someone like him 彼 と な ん か 一 緒 に
食 事 を し た く な い。 彼 と な ん か 一 緒 に 食 事 を し た く な い。

(07:18):
Too somehow I don't feel like going out today な ん か 今 日 は 出 か
け る 気 分 じ ゃ な い。 な ん か 今 日 は 出 か け る 気 分 じ ゃ な い

(07:39):
three we don't need things like expensive cars。
高 い 車 な ん か い ら な い。 高 い 車 な ん か い ら な い。
four for some reason I feel likeI been here before な ん か こ こ 前 に

(08:09):
来 た よ う な 気 が す る。 な ん か こ こ 前 に 来 た よ う な 気 が す る。
that's all for today's episode ペイ ト ビ ヨ ン に 日 本 語 キ ャ ン デ ィ の リ
ス ナ ー が 誰 で も 参 加 で き る 無 料 コ ミ ュ ニ テ ィ が あ り ま す。

(08:31):
メ ン バ ー に な っ て、 エ ピ ソ ー ド の ス クリ プ ト や 日 本 語 学 習 に 役 に 立 つ 投 稿
を チ ェ ッ ク し て く だ さ い ね。 on patrion。
There's a free community that any 日 本 語 candy listener can
join please become a member and check out the episode scripts
and help propose for Japanese learning。
今 日 も 日 本 語 キ ャ ン デ ィ を 聞 い て い た だ い て あ り が と う ご ざ い ま し た。

(08:55):
every found this episode helpfulplease follow、 and like your
comments are always welcome on Spotify お 疲 れ 様 で し た。
ま た 次 の エ ピ ソ ー ド で お 会 い し ま し ょ う。