“〜nado to iu・nado to omou”: Say/Think Something Like 〜 (quoting with disdain) [JLPT N3]

Content by NTJ Kuma · Nihongo to Japan editorial team · Updated July 27, 2026

「ダメだなどと言うな」 — quoting a remark or thought with a dismissive “of all things” edge.

「もうダメだなどと言わないで」 — 「などと言う」, “(actually) saying/thinking such a thing”

A teammate says dejectedly 「もうダメだ」, and you push back: 「もうダメだなどと言わないで、最後までやろう」 (don't go saying “it's hopeless” — let's see it through) — 「(quoted clause) ＋ などと言う／思う」 quotes some statement/thought with an attitude of disdain, disapproval, or surprise. This guide covers 「などと言う／思う」's attachment, that “using など to belittle the quote” feel, and separates it from the neutral 「と言う」.

Core: use 「など」 to belittle the quoted words

「〜などと言う／思う」 = “quote ＋ belittle (or surprise)” — 「など」 means “and such,” and placed after the quoted content ＋ 「と言う／思う」 it brings out disdain, disapproval, surprise:

• Pushing back on defeatist talk / rejecting a claim: 無理などと言わないで (don't go saying it's impossible).
• Belittling the other's thought: 自分は偉いなどと思っている (actually thinks they're great).
• Marking surprise (often with a negative): 優勝するなどとは思わなかった (never dreamed I'd win).

Feel: “(actually) saying/thinking such a thing…” — with disapproval or surprise.

How to Connect

See it in context

• もうダメだなどと言わないで、最後までやろう。(Don't go saying “it's hopeless” — let's see it through.) — pushing back
• 彼は自分だけは正しいなどと思っている。(He actually thinks only he is right.) — belittling a thought
• まさか自分が優勝するなどとは、夢にも思わなかった。(I never in my wildest dreams thought I'd win.) — surprise
• 面倒くさいなどと言わずに、やってみなよ。(Don't call it a hassle — just give it a try.) — pushing back
• 私に才能があるなどと、とても言えない。(I could never say I have talent.) — humility

⚠️ Where learners slip up

① A neutral quote uses 「と言う」; add 「など」 only for disdain/disapproval. A plain “say ~” uses 「と言う」 (彼は行くと言った = he said he'd go); add 「など」 only for disdain, disapproval (無理などと言う = actually saying it's impossible). Don't treat 「など」 as a plain quote — it adds a belittling/surprise flavor.

② Don't confuse it with the ‘listing' など. 「など」 is also commonly used for plain listing 「A や B など」 (apples, pears, etc.). Here 「などと言う／思う」 attaches after a quoted clause, marking disdain/surprise (ダメだなどと言う), not listing. When it sits before the quote-marking 「と」, it's this belittling use.

③ Colloquially often replaced by 「なんて」. 「など」 is more written; speech often uses 「なんて」 for the same disdain/surprise (ダメなんて言わないで = don't say it's hopeless, 優勝するなんて思わなかった = never thought I'd win). Same meaning; なんて is more colloquial, など more written.

🔄 Compare: などと言う／と言う／なんて／と思う

💡 Quick takeaway

The core of 「などと言う／思う」 is “quoting a statement/thought, with disdain, disapproval, or surprise” — using 「など (and such)」 to belittle the quoted words. Three common uses: ① pushing back on defeatist talk / rejecting a claim (ダメだなどと言わないで = don't say it's hopeless); ② belittling the other's thought (偉いなどと思っている = actually thinks they're great); ③ marking surprise, often with a negative (優勝するなどとは思わなかった = never thought I'd win). It differs from the neutral 「と言う」 by that “disapproval/surprise” emotion. Speech often uses 「なんて」 instead (ダメなんて言わないで), same meaning but more colloquial. To say “(actually) saying/thinking such a thing” with a bit of emotion, などと言う is vivid.

❓ Quick FAQ

Q: How do I tell 「などと言う」 from 「と言う」?

By “is there disdain, disapproval, surprise emotion.” 「と言う」 = a plain, neutral quote “say ~” (no evaluation): 彼は「行く」と言った (he said “I'll go” — objective quote), 母は早く帰れと言った (Mom said come home early — reporting). It just quotes. 「などと言う」 = quote ＋ disdain/disapproval/surprise (with the speaker's belittling or astonishment): 今更無理だなどと言うな (don't go saying it's impossible now — disapproving of the claim), あいつは天才だなどと言われている (that guy is actually called a genius — with doubt/disapproval), まさか失敗するなどと思わなかった (never thought I'd fail — surprise). It adds 「など」 to the quote, implying “this kind of statement/thought is (I feel) wrong/surprising.” So: neutral reporting “say …” → と言う; with disdain/surprise “(actually) saying such …” → などと言う. Adding 「など」 brings emotion (usually negative disapproval, or surprise).

Q: Are 「など」 and 「なんて」 the same? Which is more colloquial?

Almost the same meaning (both can mark the disdain/surprise of “(actually) saying/such”), differing in register: 「なんて」 = more colloquial, casual (common in daily conversation): ダメなんて言わないで (don't say it's hopeless), 自分が優勝するなんて、思ってもみなかった (never imagined I'd win), 掃除なんて面倒くさい (cleaning and such is a pain). 「など (などと)」 = more written, formal (news, formal writing, or when being a bit more solemn): 政府は問題ないなどと述べた (the government stated, of all things, that there's no problem — reporting tone), 私如きがなどと、謙遜する (someone like me couldn't possibly … — solemn humility). So: colloquial, casual → なんて; written, formal → など. Often interchangeable — daily conversation mostly uses なんて, writing and formal settings use など. Also 「なんか」 is an even more casual near-synonym (面倒くさいことなんか、したくない).

🖊️ Practice Questions (5)

Q1. 「もうダメだ___言わないで、最後までやろう。」(don't say things like it's hopeless)

(A) などと　(B) として　(C) について　(D) によって

Q2. 「自分は偉いなどと思っている」の語感は?

(A) (with disdain/surprise) to actually think oneself great

(B) Objectively stating that he is great

(C) Expressing gratitude

(D) Expressing a question

Q3. ここでの「など」の意味は?

(A) Belittling / disdain (saying things like ~)

(B) Parallel 'etc.'

(C) Representative example

(D) Emphatic affirmation

Q4. 「などと言う」の後ろに来やすいのは?

(A) Negation/criticism (〜言うな／いけない)

(B) Gratitude

(C) Command to advance

(D) Pure statement

Q5. 用法が自然なのは?

(A) 嫌いだなどと言うな。　(B) 嫌いだなどと言ってありがとう。

(C) 行くなどと思う水。　(D) 高いなどと食べる。

Answer Explanations

1. (A) などと ── don't say things like 「it's hopeless」.

2. (A) ── with disdain/surprise: to actually think oneself great.

3. (A) ── belittling / disdain.

4. (A) ── often followed by negation/criticism.

5. (A) ── 「などと言うな」 (don't say things like ~) is natural.