なんか

adverb, particle

something; kind of; like

1. something; somehow

Used when unable to specify exactly what.

なんか変(へん)だな。

Something seems off.

なんか嫌(いや)な予感(よかん)がする。

I have a bad feeling about something.

なんかあった？

Did something happen?

なんか食(た)べたい。

I want to eat something.

なんか聞(き)いたことがある気(き)がするけど、思(おも)い出(だ)せない。

I feel like I've heard it somewhere, but I can't remember.

2. kind of; sort of; like

A filler word adding vagueness to statements.

なんか疲(つか)れた。

I'm kind of tired.

なんか違(ちが)う気(き)がする。

It kind of feels different.

なんか難(むずか)しいね。

It's kind of difficult, isn't it?

なんか楽(たの)しくない。

It's not really fun.

なんか、今日(きょう)は調子(ちょうし)が悪(わる)い。

I'm kind of off today.

3. things like; such as (dismissive)

Used to downplay or dismiss something.

私(わたし)なんかには無理(むり)だ。

Someone like me couldn't do it.

Self-deprecating usage

そんなことなんか知(し)らない。

I don't know about things like that.

彼(かれ)なんか大嫌(だいきら)いだ。

I hate someone like him.

お金(かね)なんかいらない。

I don't need things like money.

勉強(べんきょう)なんかしたくない。

I don't want to do things like studying.

こんなところなんか来(き)たくなかった。

I didn't want to come to a place like this.

なんか is a very common casual word with multiple functions.

FILLER WORD:

Often used unconsciously in casual speech
Similar to English "like" or "kind of"
なんか、今日(きょう)は暑(あつ)いね: It's kind of hot today, isn't it?

DISMISSIVE PARTICLE:

〜なんか: things like ~, someone like ~ (often self-deprecating)
More casual form of など

FORMAL EQUIVALENT:

何(なに)か (なにか): something (more formal)

core

Added 2026.1.16 14:20 · Revised 2026.6.6 1:10

05000/05309_nanka