何となく (nantonaku) Meaning Japanese Grammar - Just Because
Anna Baffa Volpe
Get in touch with me4 min reading time
Anna Baffa Volpe
4 min reading time
The expression 何となく (nantonaku) has various meanings and the translation depends on the context and the situation.
We can translate it as for some reason, I guess, in some way, for no special reason.
How to form 何となく
何となく is formed by 3 elements:
- 何 the interrogative meaning
what - と is a particle connected to 何
- なく is an adverbial form coming from ない
not being,not existing
⇨ There is no particular thing, reason,in some way, somehow, I don't know why, but I feel so.
何となく to express vagueness and uncertainty
何となくis used to convey a sense of vagueness or uncertainty regarding a situation or feeling.
It implies that something is done or felt without a clear reason or explanation, often based on a vague intuition or feeling.
We can explain the structure using the Japanese sentence 漠然と答える: answer vaguely.
なんとなく聞けたよ。
Somehow I could listen.
Whenever we are asked something and we have no particular reason why we chose a thing or performed an action, the answer may be:
なんとなくです。
No particular reason.
何となく嫌な予感がある。
I have a bad feeling about it somehow.
何となく no clear reasons or purposes
何となく is used when we perform an action without a clear reason or purpose.
なんとなく宝くじを買ったら当たった。
I bought a lottery ticket without a clear reason or purpose, and I won.
なんとなくコンビニに行ったら、友達に会った。
I ran into a friend at the convenience store out of the blue.
⇨ I had no plans to meet a friend at the konbini, going there I met him by chance.
Other examples of 何となく
えい子
すみませんが、明日のお誕生日パーティーには行けません。
Sorry, but I won't be able to go to your birthday party tomorrow.
とも子
大丈夫です。なんとなくそう思いました。
It’s okay. I just thought so.
Cover of a book for high school students:
何となく解いて微妙な点数で終わってしまう人のための現代文のオキテ５５
The 55 rules of modern japanese language for those who solve things somehow and end up with mediocre results
The sentence we focus on is: 何となく解く meaning solve / answer something vaguely or solve / answer something without much thought.
先生
この漢字の使い方は理解できましたか？
Did you understand how to use this kanji?
学生
はい、なんとなくわかりました。
Yes, I understand most of it.
Similar grammar points in Japanese 📚