JLPT · Level 10
75 words
Japanese word
なんだかんだ
Pronunciation
Romajinandakanda
Meaning
- adverbone thing or another
Example
彼はなんだかんだと理由をつけます。kare wa na n da ka n da to ri yū o tsu ke ma su
He makes one excuse or another.
More examples
仕事はなんだかんだで予定どおり終わりました。shi goto wa na n da ka n da de yo tei dō ri o wa ri ma shi ta
The work was completed as planned, one way or another.
Core concept
It refers broadly to a mixture of different matters, excuses, or circumstances without listing each one separately.
Common phrases
なんだかんだでna n da ka n da de
one way or another
なんだかんだ言ってna n da ka n da i tte
after all
Similar words
何かとnankato: It indicates involvement with various matters, often without naming each one.
あれこれarekore: It refers to a range of different things, actions, or choices.
結局kekkyoku: It indicates what happens or is true after all the circumstances are taken into account.
ともあれtomoare: It indicates that specific details do not affect the point that follows.
Definition in Japanese
あれこれといろいろな事柄を問題にするさま。また、あれこれと理由をつけるさま。a re ko re to i ro i ro na koto gara o mon dai ni su ru sa ma ma ta a re ko re to ri yū o tsu ke ru sa ma
Word origin
The colloquial expression なんだかんだ (nandakanda) joins 何 (nan, "what") and 彼 (ka, "that") in a repeated contrast, with だ (da, the copula) marking each part and giving the sense of this and that.
Usage tips
- In Japanese conversation, なんだかんだ (nandakanda) can acknowledge complications before a speaker summarizes what happened in the end.
Other meanings
- somehowadverb