What are some examples of their usage? Is なん the short form of 何【なに】 in both
words?

Also, not sure if this is correct, but the だ in the middle of なんだか should be
the copula. Why is the copula being used like this in the middle of a word?
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2021-10-14T13:39:45.367
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grammar meaning usage etymology syntax
Difference between「なんか」and「なんだか」?
なんだか is three words なん + だ + か but it's become a set phrase and is used as a
word itself pretty much to express an idea like _somehow, somewhat,_ or
_rather_.

> 今日はなんだかさむい

> It's rather cold today.

なんか is different with a couple of different uses. It's usually an informal
version of なにか or など.

> なんか冷たいものが飲みたい。

> I want something cold to drink.

Or

> 絵や音楽なんかに興味がない

> I have no interest in things like painting and music.
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[なにか](https://dictionary.goo.ne.jp/word/%E4%BD%95%E3%81%8B_%28%E3%81%AA%E3%81%AB%E3%81%8B%29/#jn-164507)
can mean _something_ as well as _somehow_ while
[なんだか](https://dictionary.goo.ne.jp/word/%E4%BD%95%E3%81%A0%E3%81%8B/#jn-165831)
is always the adverb _somehow_. なんか is a less formal, more colloquial version
of なにか with its に changed to ん (cf.
[撥音便](https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E9%9F%B3%E4%BE%BF#%E6%92%A5%E9%9F%B3%E4%BE%BF))

Although だ should be etymologically the copula, but as you can see in the
link, it would be simpler to consider them as independent words on their own.

Some examples:

  * なんだか悲しい気分だ = なんか悲しい気分だ _I feel sad for some reason_
  * なんか食べたい _I want something to eat_
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answer