Meaning & Usage
✨ Basic Meaning
“No matter how much,” “however much,” or “even if (the condition is extreme).”
🎯 Primary Function
To indicate that the consequence or result expressed in the main clause remains constant and unaffected, regardless of the magnitude or extent of the condition/action in the preceding clause.
📋 Grammar Structure
いくら + Verb (て-form) + も
いくら + い-Adjective (く-form) + ても
いくら + な-Adjective/Noun + でも/であっても
いくら + Verb/Adjective Negative (て-form) + も (e.g., 行かなくても)
🎭 Usage Contexts
Formal Situations
Used in formal settings, but often paired with more formal verbs/phrases in the main clause.
Informal Situations
Very common and natural in casual conversation.
Written Language
Common in essays, articles, and literary works to establish extreme conditions.
Spoken Language
Highly frequent for expressing strong emphasis or exasperation.
💡 Common Applications
Emphasizing Futility or Resilience
Used to emphasize that an action (説得する – persuading) was performed to a great degree, but the desired result (意見が変わる – changing opinion) did not occur, indicating futility or strong resolve.
Example: いくら説得しても、彼の意見は変わらなかった。
Setting an Extreme Condition
Used to set an extreme condition (寒くても – no matter how cold) under which a mandatory action (換気する – ventilate) must still be carried out.
Example: いくら寒くても、窓を開けて換気しなければならない。
Highlighting an Unchanging Truth
Used to state that a fact or feeling remains constant, regardless of the passage of time or other mitigating factors.
Example: いくら時間がたっても、あの日のことは忘れられない。
Frequency
High in daily conversation and literature.
Difficulty
N3-N2 Intermediate to Advanced
Tag:
Example Sentences
Example #1
いくら謝っても、彼女の怒りは収まらなかった。
Furigana: いくらあやまっても、かのじょのいかりはおさまらなかった。
Romaji: Ikura ayamattemo, kanojo no ikari wa osamaranakatta.
English: No matter how much I apologized, her anger did not subside.
Example #2
いくら考えても、良い解決策が見つからない。
Furigana: いくらかんがえても、よいかいけつさくがみつからない。
Romaji: Ikura kangaetemo, yoi kaiketsusaku ga mitsukaranai.
English: No matter how much I think about it, I can’t find a good solution.
Example #3
この仕事はいくら時間がかかっても、今日中に終わらせなければならない。
Furigana: このしごとはいくらじかんがかかっても、きょうじゅうにおわらせなければならない。
Romaji: Kono shigoto wa ikura jikan ga kakattemo, kyōjū ni owaraseru nakereba naranai.
English: No matter how much time this job takes, I must finish it within today.
Example #4
彼はいくら食べても、全然太らない。
Furigana: かれはいくらたべても、ぜんぜんふとらない。
Romaji: Kare wa ikura tabetemo, zenzen futoranai.
English: No matter how much he eats, he doesn’t get fat at all.
Example #5
このパソコンはいくら古くても、まだ使える。
Furigana: このパソコンはいくらふるくても、まだつかえる。
Romaji: Kono pasokon wa ikura furukutemo, mada tsukaeru.
English: No matter how old this computer is, it can still be used.
Example #6
いくら便利でも、個人情報を安易に公開すべきではない。
Furigana: いくらべんりでも、こじんじょうほうをあんいにこうかいすべきではない。
Romaji: Ikura benri demo, kojin jōhō o ani ni kōkai subeki dewa nai.
English: No matter how convenient it is, one should not easily disclose personal information.
Example #7
この問題はいくら難しくても、諦めずに挑戦しよう。
Furigana: このもんだいはいくらむずかしくても、あきらめずにちょうせんしよう。
Romaji: Kono mondai wa ikura muzukashikutemo, akiramezu ni chōsen shiyō.
English: No matter how difficult this problem is, let’s challenge it without giving up.
Example #8
いくら努力しても、結果が出ないこともある。
Furigana: いくらどりょくしても、けっかがでないこともある。
Romaji: Ikura doryoku shitemo, kekka ga denai koto mo aru.
English: No matter how much effort one puts in, there are times when results don’t come.
Example #9
上司の命令はいくら理不尽でも、従うしかない。
Furigana: じょうしのめいれいはいくらりふじんでも、したがうしかない。
Romaji: Jōshi no meirei wa ikura rifujin demo, shitagau shika nai.
English: No matter how unreasonable the boss’s order is, we have no choice but to follow it.
Example #10
彼女はいくら忙しくても、毎日家族のために料理を作る。
Furigana: かのじょはいくらいそがしくても、まいにちかぞくのためにりょうりをつくる。
Romaji: Kanojo wa ikura isogashikutemo, mainichi kazoku no tame ni ryōri o tsukuru.
English: No matter how busy she is, she cooks for her family every day.
Notes & Nuances
📌 Important Points
The Result is Unaffected
The main clause often expresses an outcome that is negative or contrary to expectation, emphasizing the futility of the action in the first clause.
Example: 彼はいくら誘っても、パーティーに来なかった。
Quantifying the Degree
いくら modifies the degree or quantity. It is interchangeable with どんなに (donnani) when referring to degree or extent, but いくら can also specifically mean “how much money” or “how many.”
Example: いくら安くても、質が悪ければ買わない。
Placement of いくら
The word いくら must precede the conditional clause. It usually appears at the beginning of the sentence or clause.
Example: いくら眠くても、宿題を終わらせる。 (Even if I am very sleepy, I will finish my homework.)
⚠️ Common Mistakes
❌ いくら努力する、成功しなかった。
✅ いくら努力しても、成功しなかった。
The て-form is mandatory after いくら to link the two clauses. Simply using the plain form is incorrect in this structure.
❌ いくら便利な、使いすぎは良くない。
✅ いくら便利でも、使いすぎは良くない。
When modifying a な-adjective or noun, the linking particle is usually で/でも or であっても. Using the て-form of the plain form (like 〜だ) is incorrect.
❌ いくら忙しくて、返事をするべきだ。
✅ いくら忙しくても、返事をするべきだ。
The particle も must follow the conjugated verb/adjective to create the conditional meaning “even if/no matter.”
🏛️ Cultural Context
Politeness Level: Neutral to standard. Politeness is determined by the final predicate (e.g., ます/です form).
Social Situations: Used when expressing determination, frustration, emphasis on effort, or setting firm boundaries.
Regional Variations: Standard Japanese; universally understood.
🔍 Subtle Differences
いくら〜ても vs. 〜ても (simple conditional)
いくら〜ても specifically highlights that the condition is extreme or quantified to a large degree, whereas simple 〜ても is a general “even if/although.”
When to use: Use いくら〜ても when you want to express exasperation, futility, or emphasize the magnitude of the effort/condition.
いくら〜ても vs. どんなに〜ても
Both are nearly interchangeable when referring to extent/degree. どんなに (donnani) is strictly an extent adverb, while いくら (ikura) can also imply quantity or cost.
When to use: Use どんなに〜ても for emphasis on the *manner* or *degree* (e.g., how hard, how quickly). Use いくら〜ても when the condition involves quantity, effort, or time.
いくら〜ても vs. たとえ〜ても
たとえ〜ても (tatoe ~temo) means “even if/suppose that,” focusing on a hypothetical condition. いくら〜ても focuses on the *magnitude* of a real or potential condition.
When to use: Use たとえ〜ても for hypothetical or speculative conditions. Use いくら〜ても for conditions that can be quantified or measured (time, effort, size, etc.).
📝 Conjugation Notes
The particle も must always follow the “te-form” of the verb or adjective (V-て, i-Adj く-て) or the ‘de’ form of the na-adjective/noun (na-Adj で/Noun で) to create the unconditional “even if” structure. いくら (ikura) acts as an intensifier, quantifying the degree of the condition.
🔊 Pronunciation Tips
Pronounce いくら with a slight emphasis on the ‘i’ and a smooth connection to the ても form. The word is often spoken quickly as a single unit when setting the condition.
🧠 Memory Tips
Think of いくら (how much/many) combined with 〜ても (even if/although). The phrase literally asks “How much (condition) even if?” and concludes with an unchangeable result: “No matter how much (condition), (result) is still true.”
Other Grammar
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