Meaning & usage
なんて marks a quoted noun or plain clause with surprise, emotion, or dismissal, often translated as that or things like. It follows nouns and the plain form of verbs and adjectives, as in 病気だなんて or 集めてたなんて, and often pairs with verbs of thinking, saying, or feeling. It is casual and can sound belittling, so avoid it when referring to a superior's words or actions.
Example sentences 7
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ブレーキのない自転車に乗るなんて君は無分別だ。
You must be crazy to ride a bicycle that has no brakes!
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そう言ってくれるなんて親切ですね。
You are kind to say so.
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切手を集めてたなんて、知らなかった。
I didn't know you collected stamps.
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そんなことをするなんて何と無分別な男だ。
What a thoughtless man to do that!
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まさか彼が病気だなんて思わなかった。
I never thought that he could be ill.
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私にはやり方なんてどうでもいいの。とにかくやってよ。
I don't care how you do it. Just do it.
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君が失敗するなんて不思議だ。
It is strange that you should fail.
In past JLPT papers
This came up in 3 past exam questions.
