何となく

Japanese
Kanji in this term
何
なん
Grade: 2
kun’yomi
Alternative spelling
何と無く

Etymology

Compound of 何 (nan, “what”, combining form of nani) +‎ と (to, adverbial particle) +‎ なく (naku, adverbial form of ない nai, “not; without”).[1]

何と (nan to) is used to mean "somehow, somewhat, kinda":

この間(あいだ)は何(なん)と寒(さむ)いね。
Kono aida wa nan to samui ne.
It's been kinda cold this while, hasn't it.

The addition of the なく (naku) on the end serves to emphasize the vagueness: somehow or other, kinda sorta.

Pronunciation
  • (Tokyo) なんとな​く [nàńtónáꜜkù] (Nakadaka – [4])[1]
  • IPA(key): [nã̠nto̞na̠kɯ̟ᵝ]

Adverb

何(なん)となく • (nantonaku) 

  1. somehow or other,  for some reason or another
  2. somewhat, to some degree

References
  1. Matsumura, Akira, editor (2006), 大辞林 [Daijirin] (in Japanese), Third edition, Tōkyō: Sanseidō, →ISBN
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