GRAMMAR
〜なんて ②
to think that (surprise)
Explanation
NOTE
〜なんて (sense ②) expresses surprise, disbelief, shock, or contempt at a fact — often translated as to think that... or how...! in English.
彼が来ないなんて、信じられない。
To think that he isn't coming — I can't believe it.
Often paired with phrases like 信じられない or ひどい to underscore the emotion.
NOTE
This is different from sense ① (the casual quotative "something like"). Sense ② reacts emotionally to a surprising fact rather than quoting speech.
NOTE
With verbs and clauses, attach なんて directly to the plain form (来ない → 来ないなんて, 落ちた → 落ちたなんて).
STRUCTURE
V普
なんて彼がテストに合格したなんて、信じられません。
Kare ga tesuto ni goukaku shita nante, shinjiraremasen.
I can't believe that he passed the test!
日本で一人で暮らしているなんて、すごいですね。
Nihon de hitori de kurashite iru nante, sugoi desu ne.
I'm surprised that you are living alone in Japan; that's amazing!
明日から旅行に行かないなんて、残念です。
Ashita kara ryokou ni ikanai nante, zannen desu.
It's a shame that you aren't going on the trip starting tomorrow!
試験に落ちたなんて、信じられない。
Shiken ni ochita nante, shinjirarenai.
To think that I failed the exam — I can't believe it.
彼がそんな嘘をつくなんて、ひどい。
Kare ga sonna uso o tsuku nante, hidoi.
To think that he would tell such a lie — that's terrible.
一人で全部食べたなんて、すごいね。
Hitori de zenbu tabeta nante, sugoi ne.
To think that you ate it all alone — that's amazing.
NOTE
With nouns, attach なんて directly to the dictionary form (お金 → お金なんて). This often expresses contempt or dismissal toward the noun itself.
STRUCTURE
N辞
なんて私が優勝なんて、信じられません。
Watashi ga yūshō nante, shinjiraremasen.
I can't believe that I won!
彼が料理なんて、本当に驚きました。
Kare ga ryōri nante, hontō ni odorokimashita.
I was really surprised that he is cooking!
雪なんて、今日は全然聞いていませんでした。
Yuki nante, kyō wa zenzen kiite imasen deshita.
I hadn't heard anything about snow (for) today!
お金なんて、いらない。
Okane nante, iranai.
Money — who needs it!
嘘なんて、ひどいよ。
Uso nante, hidoi yo.
How awful that you'd lie!
彼の話なんて、聞きたくない。
Kare no hanashi nante, kikitakunai.
His talk — I don't want to hear it!
Practice exercises
1
彼が犯人なんて、本当に驚いたものだ。
To think that he is the culprit, I was truly surprised.
Answer
なんて
2
一度も会ったことない人に恋をするなんて。
To think that I'd fall in love with someone I've never even met.
Answer
なんて
3
彼女が結婚するなんて、どれほど嬉しいことか。
To think that she is getting married, how happy I am!
Answer
なんて
4
彼が裏切るなんて、許せないではいられない。
To think that he would betray me, I can't help but be unforgiving.
Answer
なんて
5
試験に合格するなんて、夢みたいだ。
To think that I passed the exam, it's like a dream.
Answer
なんて