何(なん)とか

なんとか
adverb
somehow, something
descriptive
1. somehow, by some means
Managing to do something despite difficulty; finding a way to accomplish something.
何(なん)とか間(ま)に合(あ)いました。
I somehow made it in time.
何(なん)とかしてください。
Please do something about it.
Common request
何(なん)とか試験(しけん)に合格(ごうかく)できたけど、もう少(すこ)し勉強(べんきょう)すればよかった。
I somehow managed to pass the exam, but I should have studied a bit more.
何(なん)とか生活(せいかつ)できている。
I'm somehow managing to get by.
何(なん)とかなるよ。
It'll work out somehow.
2. something, some-such, what's-it-called
Used when you can't remember or don't want to specify a name or word.
田中(たなか)何(なん)とかさんという人(ひと)です。
It's a person named Tanaka something-or-other.
When you can't remember the full name
あの何(なん)とかという映画(えいが)、見(み)たことある？有名(ゆうめい)な俳優(はいゆう)が出(で)ているやつ。
Have you seen that whatchamacallit movie? The one with the famous actor.
何(なん)とかという本(ほん)を探(さが)している。
I'm looking for a book called something-or-other.
何(なん)とか課長(かちょう)に話(はなし)してみた。
I tried talking to what's-his-name, the section chief.
あの何(なん)とかってお店(みせ)、まだある？
Is that whatchamacallit shop still there?

何(なん)とか has two distinct uses: (1) "somehow" when managing despite difficulty, and (2) "something" as a placeholder for forgotten or unspecified names.

COMMON EXPRESSIONS (sense 1, somehow):

  • 何(なん)とか間(ま)に合(あ)った: I somehow made it in time
  • 何(なん)とかなる: things will work out somehow
  • 何(なん)とかして: to manage somehow, to do something about it

COMMON EXPRESSIONS (sense 2, placeholder):

Writing

Often written in hiragana (なんとか) in casual contexts.

Related Words

Synonym: 辛(かろ)うじて (barely (emphasizes small margin))
Compare: 何々(なになに) (what)
Related: 何(なん)とかなる (it'll work out somehow)
Related: 何(なん)〜 (what (kind of), how many)
core
Added 2026.1.7 21:12 · Revised 2026.10.9 4:33
01000/01126_nantoka