Japanese Conversation · Level 26
90 words
Japanese word
とんでもない
Pronunciation
Romajitondemonai
Meaning
- i-adjectiveoutrageous
Example
その値段はとんでもないです。so no ne dan wa to n de mo na i de su
That price is outrageous.
More examples
彼はとんでもない約束をしてしまいました。kare wa to n de mo na i yaku soku o shi te shi ma i ma shi ta
He made an outrageous promise.
Core concept
Describes something so far beyond an ordinary level that it seems shocking, unreasonable, or hard to believe.
Common phrases
とんでもない値段to n de mo na i ne dan
outrageous price
とんでもない計画to n de mo na i kei kaku
absurd plan
とんでもないうわさto n de mo na i u wa sa
outrageous rumor
Similar words
途方もないtohōmonai: Describes an amount, degree, or situation far beyond normal limits.
ありえないarienai: Describes something considered impossible or too unlikely to accept as true.
ものすごいmonosugoi: Describes an unusually great degree or intensity that causes strong surprise.
Definition in Japanese
普通の程度や予想から大きく外れていて、驚きや強い非難を感じさせるさま。fu tsū no tei do ya yo sō ka ra ō ki ku hazu re te i te odoro ki ya tsuyo i hi nan o kan ji sa se ru sa ma
Word origin
The adjective とんでもない (tondemonai) likely developed from 途でもない (todemonai), 途 (to, "path or course") plus でもない (de mo nai, "is not even"), for something outside a normal course.
Usage tips
- In modern conversation, とんでもない (tondemonai) can mark an extreme reaction to a price, claim, or result, so its exact English equivalent depends on what lies outside the speaker's expectations.
Other meanings
- absurdi-adjective
- unexpectedi-adjective
- terriblei-adjective
Opposites
- まともmatomoreasonablena-adjective
Related words
- とんでもなさtondemonasaabsurditynoun