would 「なんとか」 be an acceptable replacement for "something"?


like as an example: if i forgot the name of a song but i remembered part of
it, so i said "zenryoku something" (i say something because i don't know what
comes after zenryoku), would 「全力」なんとか be an appropriate translation?

sorry if i tagged this wrong, this is my first time asking on this forum.




Yes, 「なんとか」 is often used as a replacement word when the actual word has
slipped one's mind.

「全力{ぜんりょく}なんとか」 is what you would say when you cannot remember the word that
follows the 「全力」. You can use it the exact same way you would use "something"
in English.

Informally and/or colloquially, some people use 「なんちゃら」 for the same purpose.

You will also hear 「なにがし」 at times almost exclusively replacing parts of
proper nouns. 「なにがし」 is not informal.

Finally, I would like to introduce the whole other usage of the replacement
「なんとか」 that I feel would be important for Japanese-learners to be familiar
with. That is 「なんとか」 used for a "replacement" for the word that you so clearly
remember. It is used for replacing a word in a well-known saying for
**_euphemism_**.

Original vs. なんとか-version.

・「 **バカ** のひとつ覚{おぼ}え」⇒「 **なんとか** のひとつ覚え」 ("One who knows little often repeats
it".)

・「 **ブタ** に真珠{しんじゅ}」⇒「 **なんとか** に真珠」 ("Cast not pearls before swine.")




Yes, 「なんとか」 is often used as a replacement word when the actual word has
slipped one's mind.

「全力{ぜんりょく}なんとか」 is what you would say when you cannot remember the word that
follows the 「全力」. You can use it the exact same way you would use "something"
in English.

Informally and/or colloquially, some people use 「なんちゃら」 for the same purpose.

You will also hear 「なにがし」 at times almost exclusively replacing parts of
proper nouns. 「なにがし」 is not informal.

Finally, I would like to introduce the whole other usage of the replacement
「なんとか」 that I feel would be important for Japanese-learners to be familiar
with. That is 「なんとか」 used for a "replacement" for the word that you so clearly
remember. It is used for replacing a word in a well-known saying for
**_euphemism_**.

Original vs. なんとか-version.

・「 **バカ** のひとつ覚{おぼ}え」⇒「 **なんとか** のひとつ覚え」 ("One who knows little often repeats
it".)

・「 **ブタ** に真珠{しんじゅ}」⇒「 **なんとか** に真珠」 ("Cast not pearls before swine.")

