Structure Legend
Structure
いくら + Verb[ても]
いくら + [い]Adjective[ても]
いくら + Noun + でも
いくら + [な]Adjective + でも
Details
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Standard
使用域
一般
Rare Kanji
幾ら
About いくら〜でも
In a similar way to どんなに~ても, いくら~でも is regularly translated to 'no matter how (A), (B)'. However, unlike どんな (which is an abbreviation of どのような), いくら is a noun that comes from the kanji 幾ら, meaning 'how much'. When partnered with ても (with verbs and い-Adjectives), or でも (with nouns and な-Adjectives), the literal meaning means 'however much (A), (B)'.
With いくら~でも, the (B) part of the phrase will usually highlight something that is being negated, giving the phrase it's 'no matter how much' nuance.
With いくら~でも, the (B) part of the phrase will usually highlight something that is being negated, giving the phrase it's 'no matter how much' nuance.
- あの人にいくら言っても、何も変わらないよ。No matter how much you tell him, he won't change.
- いくら新しくても落としたら壊れるに決まってるじゃん。No matter how new it is, of course it is going to break if you drop it!
- あの人のことがいくら嫌いでも、そんな事言ったら可哀そうだよ。No matter how much you dislike them, that is a hurtful thing to say.
- いくら俺でもそんな重いものは持てないよ。No matter if it is me, I can't lift something that heavy. (Even if it is me, who is strong, I cant lift something that heavy)
- 相談ならいくらでも聞いてあげるよ。I'll listen to you vent however much you need.
- お菓子ならいくらでもあるから、好きなだけ持っていきな!As for snacks, I have plenty, so take all you want!
Fun Fact
幾ら places more emphasis on the 'amount' of something, while どんなに places more emphasis on the 'type', or 'style'. Due to this, いくら will be a better choice when the 'volume' of something is being highlighted, while どんなに will sound more natural when the 'state' is being discussed.- お金はいくら払ってもいいのでその靴を私に下さい。I will pay however much for those shoes, so please let me have them! (Amount only)
- お金はどんなに払ってもいいのでその靴を私に下さい。I will pay whatever sort of money for those shoes, so please let me have them! (Possible amount or type. Dollar, yen, euro, etc)
Synonyms
Examples
いくら急いでも土曜日までには終わらない。
No matter how quickly I do it, I won't finish before Saturday.
いくら泣いても、泣き止まない。
No matter how much they cry, they won't cry themselves out.
文プロを見つけるまでいくら文法を勉強しても、理解ができなかった。
Before finding Bunpro, no matter how much I studied grammar I couldn't understand it.
いくらかわいくても、孫になんでも買ってあげるのは良くないですよ。
No matter how cute your grandchildren are, it's not good to buy them whatever they want.
いくら頑張っても、彼にはかなわない。
No matter how hard I try, I can't compete with him.
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Understanding how to use いくら〜ても in a sentence
Japanese Stack Exchange
Understanding the multiple uses of いくら〜ても
Japanese For Beginners
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いくら〜でも – Grammar Discussion
Most Recent Replies (3 in total)
seanblue
About 4 years ago
Why do you only cover いくらでも and not arbitrary question work + でも?
Pushindawood
About 4 years ago
@seanblue Is this what you are looking for? We felt that grammar structures like いくらでも and どんなに~ても would benefit from having their own, dedicated grammar pages. Cheers.
conan
About 4 years ago
I’d be curious to see this expanded on too. Integrated Approach gives more examples:
いつ見ても no matter when (I/we/you) look
何を食べても no matter what (I/we/you) eat
どこへ行っても no matter where (I/we/you) go
etc.
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