なんか meaning after or before noun


Can I have an explanation of the meaning and usage of なんか when used before or
after a noun, like in these two examples :

> アルバイトなんかがある人は行けない。

> 何かジャケットを買いますか。

Why in the first sentence it's after the noun and in the second one, before
the noun? Is there a difference in meaning and usage?




When it comes after nouns, it is a usage of [the following
meaning](https://dictionary.goo.ne.jp/word/%E3%81%AA%E3%82%93%E3%81%8B/#jn-165619):

> ［副助］《代名詞「なに」に副助詞「か」の付いた「なにか」の音変化から》名詞、名詞に準じる語、活用語の連用形、一部の助詞などに付く。
>
> １ 一例を挙げて示す。…など。「この着物―お似合いです」「映画―よく行く」
>
> ２ ある事物を例示し、それを軽んじていう意を表す。…など。「彼の言うこと―聞くな」「君に―わからない」

For the definition #1, it translates mostly as _or something_. For #2, it is a
way to degrade the noun.

On the other hand, a prefixed なんか works as something similar to a indefinite
article or _some_.

So

  * アルバイトなんかある人 : people who need to go to a part-time job or something (it could be something other than job).
  * なんかジャケット : some jacket (the speaker is not specific about which jacket, but it will be jacket and could not be a coat).

* * *

Note [かなんか](https://www.weblio.jp/content/%E3%81%8B%E4%BD%95%E3%81%8B), which
is literally _or something_ , may be more widely usable for the post-fix なんか,
but they are not totally interchangeable with なんか. For example, この着物かなんかお似合いです
is odd. In this case, by 着物なんか, the speaker suggests _this kimono (among other
things), for example_.




When it comes after nouns, it is a usage of [the following
meaning](https://dictionary.goo.ne.jp/word/%E3%81%AA%E3%82%93%E3%81%8B/#jn-165619):

> ［副助］《代名詞「なに」に副助詞「か」の付いた「なにか」の音変化から》名詞、名詞に準じる語、活用語の連用形、一部の助詞などに付く。
>
> １ 一例を挙げて示す。…など。「この着物―お似合いです」「映画―よく行く」
>
> ２ ある事物を例示し、それを軽んじていう意を表す。…など。「彼の言うこと―聞くな」「君に―わからない」

For the definition #1, it translates mostly as _or something_. For #2, it is a
way to degrade the noun.

On the other hand, a prefixed なんか works as something similar to a indefinite
article or _some_.

So

  * アルバイトなんかある人 : people who need to go to a part-time job or something (it could be something other than job).
  * なんかジャケット : some jacket (the speaker is not specific about which jacket, but it will be jacket and could not be a coat).

* * *

Note [かなんか](https://www.weblio.jp/content/%E3%81%8B%E4%BD%95%E3%81%8B), which
is literally _or something_ , may be more widely usable for the post-fix なんか,
but they are not totally interchangeable with なんか. For example, この着物かなんかお似合いです
is odd. In this case, by 着物なんか, the speaker suggests _this kimono (among other
things), for example_.

