N2 — outside your level filter

なんとか

なんとかnantokaN2neutral

somehow + memorize

nantoka oboeru

somehow; manage to — an outcome reached against the odds

meaning: manage to memorize

Related

  • 覚おぼえる
  • なんとか〜
  • なんとか覚おぼえる

急いそげば、なんとか覚おぼえるよ。

isogeba, nantoka oboeru yo.

If we hurry, we'll manage to memorize. casual

お金かねがなくても、なんとかなるよ。

okane ga nakute mo, nantoka naru yo.

Even with no money, things work out somehow. casual

All examples6

manage to — the act comes off despite the odds

  1. 急いそげば、なんとか間まに合あうよ。

    isogeba, nantoka maniau yo.

    If we hurry, we'll manage to make it in time. casual

  2. 必死ひっしに走はしって、なんとか間まに合あった。

    hisshi ni hashitte, nantoka ma ni atta.

    I ran flat out and just about made it in time. casual

  3. 資料しりょうが足たりませんでしたが、なんとか発表はっぴょうを終おえました。

    shiryou ga tarimasen deshita ga, nantoka happyou o oemashita.

    I was short on material, but I got through the presentation somehow. neutral

by whatever means — pressing the listener to find a way

  1. 明日あしたまでに、この不具合ふぐあいをなんとか直なおしてください。

    ashita made ni, kono fuguai o nantoka naoshite kudasai.

    By tomorrow, please find a way to fix this problem. neutral

  2. ご迷惑めいわくをおかけしますが、なんとかご都合つごうをつけていただけないでしょうか。

    go meiwaku o okake shimasu ga, nantoka go tsugou o tsukete itadakenai deshou ka.

    I know it is an imposition, but could you possibly find a way to make the time? formal

it'll work out somehow — なんとかなる/なんとかする, the way left unnamed

  1. お金かねがなくても、なんとかなるよ。

    okane ga nakute mo, nantoka naru yo.

    Even with no money, things work out somehow. casual

How it's formed2

All forms1

  • なんとかしてnantokashitealternant

    Spells out the effort, whatever it takes (なんとかして手てに入いれたい). Bare なんとか leans on an outcome already reached.

Notes

Failure takes a fixed phrase, not the plain negative (なんとかならなかった). A
different word shares the sound: 田中たなかなんとかさん means "so-and-so."