Meaning & Usage
✨ Basic Meaning
No matter how… / No matter how much…
🎯 Primary Function
To emphasize that a certain condition (to whatever degree) does not affect the outcome or the main statement.
📋 Grammar Structure
どんなに + Verb (て-form) + も
どんなに + い-Adj (remove ～い) + くて + も
どんなに + な-Adj + で + も
どんなに + Verb (ない-form) + なくて + も
🎭 Usage Contexts
Formal Situations
Used in speeches and formal writing to emphasize commitment or unyielding facts.
Informal Situations
Commonly used in daily conversations to express determination or strong opinions.
Written Language
Frequent in literature and essays to add emotional weight or philosophical depth.
Spoken Language
Often used to exaggerate a point or show strong feelings.
💡 Common Applications
Expressing Persistence or Determination
Used to show that a person’s resolve will not change regardless of the difficulty.
Example: どんなに失敗しても、また挑戦します。 (No matter how many times I fail, I will try again.)
Describing Constant Facts
Used to describe things that remain true regardless of external circumstances.
Example: どんなに時代が変わっても、この伝統は残るだろう。 (No matter how times change, this tradition will likely remain.)
Emphasizing Extreme Degree
Emphasizes that even if the degree is extreme, the result or action remains the same.
Example: どんなに遠くても会いに行きます。 (No matter how far it is, I will go to see you.)
Frequency
High (Very common in both casual conversation and writing)
Difficulty
JLPT N3
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Example Sentences
Example #1
どんなに練習しても、なかなか上手になりません。
Furigana: どんなにれんしゅうしても、なかなかじょうずになりません。
Romaji: Donnani renshuu shitemo, nakanaka jouzu ni narimasen.
English: No matter how much I practice, I just can’t get better.
Example #2
どんなに忙しくても、朝食は必ず食べます。
Furigana: どんなにいそがしくても、ちょうしょくはかならずたべます。
Romaji: Donnani isogashikute mo, choushoku wa kanarazu tabemasu.
English: No matter how busy I am, I always make sure to eat breakfast.
Example #3
どんなに安くても、欲しくないものは買いません。
Furigana: どんなにやすくても、ほしくないものはかいません。
Romaji: Donnani yasute mo, hoshikunai mono wa kaimasen.
English: No matter how cheap it is, I don’t buy things I don’t want.
Example #4
どんなに遠くても、歩いていくつもりです。
Furigana: どんなにとおくても、あるいていくつもりです。
Romaji: Donnani tookute mo, aruite iku tsumori desu.
English: No matter how far it is, I intend to walk there.
Example #5
どんなに辛いことがあっても、あきらめないでください。
Furigana: どんなにつらいことがあっても、あきらめないでください。
Romaji: Donnani tsurai koto ga atte mo, akiramenaide kudasai.
English: No matter how hard things get, please do not give up.
Example #6
どんなに高い料理でも、味が良くなければ意味がない。
Furigana: どんなにたかいりょうりでも、あじがよくなければいみがない。
Romaji: Donnani takai ryouri demo, aji ga yokunakereba imi ga nai.
English: No matter how expensive the food is, it’s meaningless if it doesn’t taste good.
Example #7
どんなに説明を聞いても、理解できなかった。
Furigana: どんなにせつめいをきいても、りかいできなかった。
Romaji: Donnani setsumei o kiitemo, rikai dekinakatta.
English: No matter how many times I listened to the explanation, I couldn’t understand it.
Example #8
どんなに謝っても、彼女は許してくれなかった。
Furigana: どんなにあやまっても、かのじょはゆるしてくれなかった。
Romaji: Donnani ayamatte mo, kanojo wa yurushite kurenakatta.
English: No matter how much I apologized, she wouldn’t forgive me.
Example #9
どんなに便利になっても、健康が一番大切だ。
Furigana: どんなにべんりになっても、けんこうがいちばんたいせつだ。
Romaji: Donnani benri ni natte mo, kenkou ga ichiban taisetsu da.
English: No matter how convenient the world becomes, health remains the most important thing.
Example #10
どんなに親しい仲でも、礼儀は必要だ。
Furigana: どんなにしんないなかでも、れいぎはひつようだ。
Romaji: Donnani shitashii naka demo, reigi wa hitsuyou da.
English: No matter how close you are, politeness is still necessary.
Notes & Nuances
📌 Important Points
Emphasis on Degree
The word ‘donnani’ emphasizes the ‘degree’ or ‘extent’ more than just saying ‘even if’.
Example: どんなに食べても太らない。 (No matter how much I eat, I don’t gain weight.)
Donnani vs. Ikura
‘Ikura’ often refers to quantity or frequency, while ‘Donnani’ emphasizes the intensity or degree. They are often interchangeable.
Example: いくら安くても買いません。 vs どんなに安くても買いません。
⚠️ Common Mistakes
❌ どんなに忙しいでも (Donnani isogashii demo)
✅ どんなに忙しくても (Donnani isogashikute mo)
I-adjectives must use the ‘kute’ form before ‘mo’, not the dictionary form.
❌ どんなに練習するも (Donnani renshuu suru mo)
✅ どんなに練習しても (Donnani renshuu shitemo)
Verbs must be in the ‘te-form’.
🏛️ Cultural Context
Politeness Level: Neutral. The politeness of the sentence is determined by the final verb/ending, not the ‘donnani ~temo’ structure itself.
Social Situations: Often used in motivational contexts or when expressing deep affection/commitment.
Regional Variations: Standard Japanese. In some dialects, ‘donna ni’ might be replaced by local variations of ‘ikura’, but ‘donnani’ is universally understood.
🔍 Subtle Differences
どんなに～ても vs たとえ～ても
‘Donnani’ focuses on the degree (how much), while ‘Tatoe’ focuses on the hypothetical situation (even if it were the case).
When to use: Use ‘Donnani’ when the degree of the action/state is the point of emphasis.
📝 Conjugation Notes
Remember that for Nouns and Na-adjectives, the connection is ‘demo’ (e.g., Donnani kirei demo). For I-adjectives, it is ‘kutemo’ (e.g., Donnani kute mo).
🔊 Pronunciation Tips
Place a slight emphasis on ‘donnani’ to strengthen the contrast between the condition and the result.
🧠 Memory Tips
Break it down: ‘Donnani’ (to what extent) + ‘~te mo’ (even if). So, ‘Even if to a great extent…’ = No matter how much.
Other Grammar
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