Is there anymore to the usage of なんか that isn't saying "something", but rather
something like, or along the lines of? I know the two are very similar, but
using なんか at the end of a sentence seems to be very clear syntactically, while
using it to modify a noun seems weird, especially given the か at the end-
further kanji isn't generally used, I don't think. So is there more to it? Is
there a more formal way of saying it that would make sense syntactically?
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2014-05-31T07:03:16.113
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2014-09-05T12:17:17.100
question
history syntax
Development of なんか？
It can be used in front of adjectives to convey the sense of "somewhat" (e.g.
なんか強い = "somewhat strong"). Is that close to what you're getting at?
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2014-06-01T03:52:46.607
16249
2014-06-01T03:52:46.607
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My answer will be based on the assumption that OP is talking about when 「なんか」
is indeed followed, not preceded, by a noun as s/he so states in the comments
(but not in the question).

In **informal** conversation, there actually exists such a structure.

> "なんか + Noun + みたいな（のような） + Noun"

For instance, I have little appetite when I have a fever. Since I do not want
to eat a regular meal, I would say to someone:

> 「なんかゼリーかヨーグルトみたいなもの、いくつか[買]{か}ってきてくれる？」
>
> "Could you go get some jello or yogurt type of things for me?"

In this sentence, your TL "along the lines of" is spot-on. **Note that in this
case, 「なんか」 can be replaced by 「なにか」.**

**EDIT:**

Just in case, I will briefly talk about when 「なんか」 is preceded by a noun.
There are two main usages of this structure.

1) Citing an instance.

> A: どこか[暖]{あたた}かいところに行きたいなあ。"I'd love to go someplace warm."
>
> B: 暖かいところ？サイパンなんかどう？ "Someplace warm? How about Saipan?"

2) Making light of something.

> 「[愛]{あい}なんかいらない！[金]{かね}が[欲]{ほ}しい！」 "I don't want love! I want money!"

**Note that when 「なんか」 is preceded by a noun, it cannot be replaced by
「なにか」.**
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2014-09-04T14:38:23.647
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2014-09-05T12:17:17.100
2014-09-05T12:17:17.100
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answer