N3 Emphasis, Limitation, and Addition

~なんか/〜なんて: meaning, usage and examples

~なんか/〜なんて means: ...like (expresses surprise, disgust, or de-emphasis).

Updated 9 November 2026 · By the My Senpai team · Spotted a mistake? Tell us

Examples

1. 誕生日たんじょうびなのに、カップラーメンなんか食たべたくない。

   It's my birthday. I don't want to eat something like cup noodles.

2. 「彼かれが好すき」なんて、言いえません。

   I can't say something like "I like him."

3. 宿題しゅくだいなんか、やりたくないです。

   I don't want to do homework or anything like that.

4. 鈴木すずきさんが会社かいしゃをやめるなんて、信しんじられません。

   I can't believe Ms. Suzuki is quitting the company.

When to use it

Casual words that put down or play down something: 'something like' or 'stuff like'. Use なんか to show dislike or modesty: 宿題しゅくだいなんかやりたくない. Use なんて to show surprise, disbelief, or dislike about a whole idea: 彼かれが結婚けっこんするなんて 'I can't believe he's getting married'.

Nuance

Casual and emotional. About others, it can sound rude (田中たなかさんなんか); about yourself it sounds modest (私わたしなんか). Avoid both in formal writing. なんか also works as a soft filler meaning "somehow" or "like".

Compare

なんか usually follows a noun and replaces は, が, or を. なんて often follows a full clause to react to it: 一人ひとりで行いくなんて危あぶない. Compare など: など lists examples politely (りんごなど). なんか and なんて add the speaker's feelings.

Tip: Use なんて after a whole sentence you react to with surprise. Use なんか when you want to look down on one thing.