Meaning & usage
なんて follows nouns or plain-form phrases to downplay or dismiss what precedes it, adding a tone like 'something as minor as' or 'no way', and it can also introduce quoted words or thoughts colloquially. It appears after nouns like 日本 or after clauses in plain form, as in 見ないなんて.
Example sentences 8
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雨くらいで電話が混線してたら日本なんて大変ですよね。
If rain was enough to get phone-lines crossed then Japan would be in a right mess, wouldn't it?
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他の役職なんて残ってないし。あとは平部員だけだよ。
Well there aren't any other positions left. After that, all that is left is basic member.
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ブレーキがキーキーいうバイクなんて欲しがる人いるわけ？
Who wants to buy a motorcycle with squeaky brakes?
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丸一日オンラインで君を見ないなんてびっくりだよ。
It almost scared me not to see you online for a whole day.
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よりによって相手がノーマークのスーちゃんなんて。
That it be with the off-the-radar Sue of all people!
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あの二人、元に戻すつもりなんて更々ないみたいだし・・・。
It seems they don't have the slightest intention of restoring it.
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病人にそんなことを言うなんて、彼には思いやりがなかった。
It was heartless of him to say such a thing to the sick man.
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めったに乗らないヨットなんてただの金食い虫だ。
It's just throwing money away to have a yacht you rarely use.