N29/217

なにやら

なにやら + clauseなにやら + そうだ/らしい/ようだ

Meanings

  • Something or other
  • Some kind of thing
  • For some reason; somehow

About this pattern

Explanation

なにやら is used when the speaker feels that something is happening or there is some information, but cannot specify what it is. It adds a sense of vagueness or mystery, often signaling that the speaker has heard, noticed, or inferred something without being able to state the exact cause or content. It frequently precedes a clause or a conjectural statement (e.g., そうだ, らしい, ようだ) to express uncertainty about what is occurring.

Learn in context

Example sentences

なにやら変だ。

Something seems strange.

なにやら誰かが呼んでいるようだ。

Someone seems to be calling out to me for some reason.

なにやら雨が降りそうだ。

For some reason, it looks like it's going to rain.