「Nandakanda」: The Master Trick to 'Sum Up' Any Issue

Have you ever heard a colleague complain about all sorts of things about their boss, but then end with the phrase:『なんだかんだ、いい上司だよね』(Nandakanda, ii joushi da yo ne)?

Wait a minute, didn't they just bad-mouth their boss?

Welcome to「なんだかんだ」(nandakanda) – one of the phrases that most clearly expresses the Japanese way of thinking, which is balanced and multi-faceted.

「Nandakanda」is not just 'This and that'

Many textbooks translate「なんだかんだ」as 'this and that', but this translation doesn't capture its full spirit. It's not just a list.

The power of「なんだかんだ」lies in its ability to summarize a whole mess of good-bad, convenient-difficult, love-hate... to arrive at a final conclusion.

It's like an acknowledgment: "Well, a lot of things happened, and there are many things I don't like, but IN CONCLUSION..."

Practical Usage 🧐

Let's see how the Japanese use it to see its power:

1. When talking about a person:

You have a boss who is often scolding (👎), gives difficult tasks (👎) but in critical moments is very protective of their staff (👍) and sometimes is very understanding (👍).

Instead of just praising or criticizing, you can say:

👨‍💼「うちの上司、口うるさいけど、なんだかんだ頼りになるんだよな。」 (Uchi no joushi, kuchiurusai kedo, nandakanda tayori ni narun da yo na.) → My boss is nagging, but all things considered/when all is said and done they are very reliable.

2. When talking about a place or thing:

You feel that living in your hometown is comfortable, but opportunities are few. Moving to the city is expensive and chaotic (😫), but it's fun and convenient (✨).

🏙️「都会は物価が高いけど、なんだかんだ楽しいよね。」 (Tokai wa bukka ga takai kedo, nandakanda tanoshii yo ne.) → The city's cost of living is high, but at the end of the day it's still fun.

3. When talking about a relationship:

Friends or siblings, even if they often argue and bicker, they will immediately help each other when something happens.

👫「あの兄弟、いつも喧嘩してるけど、なんだかんだ仲良いよね。」 (Ano kyoudai, itsumo kenka shiteru kedo, nandakanda naka ii yo ne.) → Those siblings are always fighting, but when it comes down to it they are very close.

The Takeaway ✅

「なんだかんだ」is a 'magical' word that helps you express a comprehensive, not one-sided view. It shows that you have considered many factors before making a final comment.

Next time you want to 'sum up' a complex issue with many sides, try using「なんだかんだ」. Your sentence will have more depth and sound 'very Japanese' immediately! 😉