Japanese Conversation · Level 11
90 words
Japanese word
どんなに
Pronunciation
Romajidonnani
Meaning
- adverbhow
Example
どんなにうれしいか、言葉では言い表せません。do n na ni u re shi i ka koto ba de wa i i arawa se ma se n
I cannot express how happy I am in words.
More examples
どんなに忙しくても、毎晩少しは本を読みます。do n na ni isoga shi ku te mo mai ban suko shi wa hon o yo mi ma su
No matter how busy I am, I read a little every night.
Core concept
Connects an action or state with its degree, emphasizing how far it reaches or saying that the result holds regardless of that degree.
Common phrases
どんなに頑張ってもdo n na ni gan ba tte mo
no matter how hard one tries
どんなに忙しくてもdo n na ni isoga shi ku te mo
no matter how busy one is
Similar words
どれほどdorehodo: Expresses how great or extensive an action, state, or quality is.
どれだけdoredake: Expresses the degree or amount of something, often with strong emphasis.
いかにikani: Expresses the degree of an action or state in a formal or literary style.
いくらikura: Expresses an amount or degree, especially in a concessive pattern.
Definition in Japanese
ある性質や状態の程度を強く示し、その程度がどれほどであっても同じであることを表す語。a ru sei shitsu ya jō tai no tei do o tsuyo ku shime shi so no tei do ga do re ho do de a tte mo ona ji de a ru ko to o arawa su go
Word origin
The native Japanese form どんなに (donnani) consists of どんな (donna, "what kind of") followed by に (ni), extending a descriptive expression into one of degree.
Usage tips
- The same form appears in emphatic statements and concessive patterns, so どんなに (donnani) can mean either "how" or "no matter how" depending on the clause.
Other meanings
- no matter howadverb
- how muchadverb