like as an example: if i forgot the name of a song but i remembered part of it, so i said "zenryoku something" (i say something because i don't know what comes after zenryoku), would 「全力」なんとか be an appropriate translation?
sorry if i tagged this wrong, this is my first time asking on this forum.
Answer
Yes, 「なんとか」 is often used as a replacement word when the actual word has slipped one's mind.
「全力{ぜんりょく}なんとか」 is what you would say when you cannot remember the word that follows the 「全力」. You can use it the exact same way you would use "something" in English.
Informally and/or colloquially, some people use 「なんちゃら」 for the same purpose.
You will also hear 「なにがし」 at times almost exclusively replacing parts of proper nouns. 「なにがし」 is not informal.
Finally, I would like to introduce the whole other usage of the replacement 「なんとか」 that I feel would be important for Japanese-learners to be familiar with. That is 「なんとか」 used for a "replacement" for the word that you so clearly remember. It is used for replacing a word in a well-known saying for euphemism.
Original vs. なんとか-version.
・「バカのひとつ覚{おぼ}え」⇒「なんとかのひとつ覚え」 ("One who knows little often repeats it".)
・「ブタに真珠{しんじゅ}」⇒「なんとかに真珠」 ("Cast not pearls before swine.")
No comments:
Post a Comment