何となく

Japanese

Kanji in this term
何
なん Grade: 2
kun’yomi

Alternative spelling
何と無く

Etymology

Compound of 何 (nan, “what”, combining form of nani) +‎ と (to, adverbial particle) +‎ なく (naku, adverbial form of ない nai, “not; without”).

何と (nan to) is used to mean "somehow, somewhat, kinda":

この間(あいだ)は何(なん)と寒(さむ)いね。

Kono aida wa nan to samui ne.

It's been kinda cold this while, hasn't it.

The addition of the なく (naku) on the end serves to emphasize the vagueness: somehow or other, kinda sorta.

Pronunciation

• (Tokyo) なんとな​く [nàńtónáꜜkù] (Nakadaka – [4])
• IPA^(key): [nã̠nto̞na̠kɯ̟ᵝ]

Adverb

何(なん)となく • (nantonaku) 

1. somehow or other,  for some reason or another
2. somewhat, to some degree