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〜な・〜なあ (feeling)

how …!, I wish (musing)

Plain form + な / なあ

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At the end of a sentence, な or なあ expresses a feeling, often half to yourself: いいなあ, "lucky you" or "how nice"; 今日は暑いなあ, "it's so hot today".

It's like ね, but more inward. ね looks for the listener's agreement; なあ is musing, admiring or envying. With たい, it's a wish: 海に行きたいなあ, "I'd love to go to the beach".

Don't confuse it with the prohibition な after a dictionary form (行くな, "don't go", N4). That one is a sharp command; this one is a soft sigh, and it can follow adjectives and だ.

It's casual. In polite speech, use ですね.

Register: Casual, often said to yourself.

Examples

  • いいなあ。私わたしも行いきたい。

    Lucky you. I want to go too.

  • 今日きょうは暑あついなあ。

    It's so hot today.

  • 海うみに行いきたいなあ。

    I'd love to go to the beach.

  • きれいな景色けしきだなあ。

    What a beautiful view.

  • もう十二時じゅうにじか。時間じかんがたつのは早はやいなあ。

    Twelve already? Time flies.

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