Why does なんてね mean "Just kidding"?

Question

I very often see なんてね or some similar phrase being translated to "Just kidding"? but why does it mean this and how does the grammar behind it work?

Answer 1

なんて is an informal word that is used after some phrase and implies it is not important.

• Usage of なんて and なんか as emphasis

  Basically when you're kind of ignoring the importance of, or even slightly putting down, the topic of the sentence. 愛なんか要らない。(I don't need love!)

• など; なんか; なんて

So when なんて is used like a standalone interjection, it means you said the previous sentence not seriously.

ね is a sentence-end particle and thus optional. You can say なんて! ("kidding!") without largely changing the meaning. なんてな is the same (sounds a bit more masculine).

Answer 2

The verb 言う is omitted after なんて. So you can translate it "saying (something) like that", or virtually as a subjunctive: "(as if) it be/were like that". That's why it comes to have "I'm kidding" sense.

^{(Left: screen capture of 逆転裁判5, Right: the same cut on its English version, Dual Destinies.)}

A synonymous expression is なんちゃって (< なんて言っちゃって). This one also works as a slangy adjective "pretend", as in なんちゃって家族 "a pretend family".

Answer 3

"ｘｘｘなんてね"　　

『あんた（あんたは、あなたは）死んだ方がいいよ。』なんてね。
I'd rather you were dead, just kidding.
『あんたは、死んだ方がいいよ。』なんて言ったりしてね。
『あんたは、死んだ方がいいよ』と、本気で言ったりしてね。
『あんたは、死んだ方がいいよ』(Once you said it cleary, then) って本気で言ったと思う？本気じゃないよ、冗談だよ。
"I'd rather you were dead. (Once you said it cleary, then) Can I say it in earnest? NOWAY! I'm just saying it in fun."
→ I'd rather you were dead, just kidding.

もし、この説明で分かってもらえなかったら、もう僕はこのサイトに回答を投稿しないよ。なんてね。