* kind of, sort of + adjective or verb = a little, somehow + adjective or verb

People also use sort of or kind of in front of adjectives, verbs, and other types of word to mean 'a little' or 'in some way', or with very little meaning.

-I felt kind of sorry for him.
-I've sort of heard of him, but I don't know who he is.

* It's a kind of... a sort of... +noun = It's a type, a variety of +noun

In conversation and in less formal writing, people use a sort of or a kind of in front of a noun to say that something could be described as being a particular thing.

-Kakiage is a kind of tempura