何となく (nantonaku) Meaning Japanese Grammar - Just Because

The expression 何(なん)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(なん)となく

何(なん)となく is formed by 3 elements:

• 何(なん) the interrogative meaning what
• と is a particle connected to 何(なん)
• 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(なん)となく to express vagueness and uncertainty

何(なん)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(ばく)然(ぜん)と答(こた)える: answer vaguely.

Whenever we are asked something and we have no particular reason why we chose a thing or performed an action, the answer may be:

何(なん)となく no clear reasons or purposes

何(なん)となく is used when we perform an action without a clear reason or purpose.

⇨ I had no plans to meet a friend at the konbini, going there I met him by chance.

Other examples of 何(なん)となく

Cover of a book for high school students:

The sentence we focus on is: 何(なん)となく解(と)く meaning solve / answer something vaguely or solve / answer something without much thought.