のなんのって
So much that, Extremely, Very
Structure
［い］Adjective + のなんのって
［な］Adjective + な + のなんのって
Explanation
のなんのって is a colloquial expression used mainly in spoken Japanese to emphasize that something is 'incredibly (A)' or 'unbelievably (A)'. This phrase is a combination of the case marking particle の, the pre-noun adjectival 何の meaning 'what kind of', and って, which is a casual contraction of という 'is called'.
The literal sense, 'to call it (A) or what', implies that the degree of (A) is so extreme that the speaker struggles to find any other word to describe it.
This grammar pattern can follow い-Adjectives, な-Adjectives (with な), and verbs in their plain form.
- あの映画の最後のシーン、感動したのなんのって。涙が止まらなかったよ。That movie's final scene was so incredibly moving. I couldn't stop crying.
- このケーキは美味しいのなんのって、一口食べたらもう一個食べたくなっちゃうよ。This cake is so delicious that once you have a bite, you'll immediately want another one.
- 新しくできた公園はきれいなのなんのって、毎日散歩に行きたくなるほどだよ。The newly built park is so beautiful that it makes you want to go for a walk there every day.
のなんのって is a shortened form of the phrase ～の～ないのって. This longer version carries the same meaning by repeating the word (A) in both its positive and negative forms. The structure literally means 'whether you call it (A) or not (A), (B)', where (B) is a clause that describes the extent or result of (A). The phrase can also be used on its own, as it inherently expresses an extreme degree.
- 昨日のコンサートは混むの混まないのって、会場に入るだけで一時間もかかった。Yesterday's concert was so crowded that it took a whole hour just to get into the venue.
- 駅前の新しいマンションは高いの高くないのって、普通のサラリーマンにはとても買えないよ。The new apartment building in front of the station is so expensive, there's no way a regular office worker could afford it.
Examples
今朝は寒いのなんのって、水道管が凍ってしまったほどだよ。
It was so incredibly cold this morning that the water pipes froze over.
山頂からの景色はきれいなのなんのって、言葉を失うくらいだった。
The view from the mountain top was so breathtakingly beautiful that I was at a loss for words.
昨日、転んで打った膝が痛いのなんのって、歩くのもやっとだよ。
My knee that I hit when I fell yesterday is extremely painful, to the point where it's hard to even walk.
誕生日にサプライズパーティーを開いてもらって、驚いたのなんのって、思わず泣いちゃった。
I was so surprised when they threw a surprise party for my birthday that I couldn't help but cry.
旅行の荷物が重いのなんのって、駅の階段を上がるだけで汗だくになった。
My travel luggage was extremely heavy; I was drenched in sweat just from going up the station stairs.
Ａ：「そのカレー、辛くない？」
Ｂ：「辛いのなんのって！口から火が出そうだよ。」
A: 'Isn't that curry spicy?'
B: 'It's extremely spicy! It feels like my mouth is on fire.'
Ａ：「昨日のライブ、どうだった？」
Ｂ：「人がいっぱいで大変だったのなんのって。前に進むことさえできなかったよ。」
A: 'How was the concert yesterday?'
B: 'It was so terribly crowded that I couldn't even move forward.'
Ａ：「見て、あの子猫！」
Ｂ：「うわー、かわいいのなんのって！連れて帰りたいくらいだわ。」
A: 'Look, that kitten!'
B: 'Wow, it's extremely cute! I almost want to take it home.'
夜中に変な物音がして、怖かったのなんのって、一睡もできなかった。
I heard a strange noise in the middle of the night and was so scared that I couldn't sleep a wink.
このパズルは複雑なのなんのって、完成させるのに三日もかかった。
This puzzle is extremely complicated; it took me three whole days to finish it.
人気ラーメン店の行列が長いのなんのって、一時間以上も待たされたんだ。
The line for that popular ramen shop was so long that I was forced to wait for over an hour.
試験に合格したときは、嬉しかったのなんのって、思わず飛び上がってしまった。
I was so happy when I passed the exam that I jumped for joy without thinking.