Grammar Info
N3 Lesson 6: 21/24

殊(こと)か
how…what..., god knows...

いくたび・いくど

Structure
Verb + ことか
[い]Adjective + こと
[な]Adjective + + こと
Noun + である + こと
Details
Register Standard
使用域 一般
Information
Like ことに, ことか is a grammar point that utilizes the kanji 殊(こと), meaning 'particularly' (in terms of a large amount). As these structures regularly appear in hiragana, they are not to be confused with 事(こと) 'thing'. こと is a combination of 'particularly', and the case marking particle か, presenting a question.
In sentences with ことか, words that highlight some particular number or extent are often used, before ことか comes at the end of the statement, expressing that 'extent' as being particularly unusual, or even unbelievable (thanks to the addition of か). This is often translated simply as 'how (A)', 'what (A)', or even 'god knows (A)'. Let's look at a few examples.
  • あの人(ひと)コンサートは何回(なんかい)いったことか
    God knows how many times I have gone to that person's concert.
  • うち犬(いぬ)はどんなに可愛(かわい)いことか。こんなに可愛(かわい)いワンチャンは他(ほか)にはいないはず
    How can I explain how cute my dog is? There is no other dog as cute as her.
  • なんて暇(ひま)なことか。こんなに暇(ひま)なのは久(ひさ)しぶり
    God knows how bored I am. It's been a long time since I've been this bored.
  • 息子(むすこ)一人(ひとり)電車(でんしゃ)乗(の)せるどれだけ心配(しんぱい)であることか
    God knows how worried I am to let my kid on the train by himself.
Literally, ことか can be translated as 'to what particular (A) is (B)!?', as the enquiry is often not directed at anyone specifically, but instead presents itself as a question simply to emphasize its magnitude.
Caution
In modern Japanese, this expression is used primarily in written language, and has a tendency to sound either poetic, or dramatic. Because of this, it may sound unnatural in daily speech, unless the speaker is purposely being dramatic.
  • どれだけお前(まえ)事(こと)愛(あい)していたことかそれでも俺(おれ)はお前(まえ)裏切(うらぎ)られた!
    God knows how much I loved you! Still, you betrayed me.
  • 知(し)らない人(ひと)ありがとうと言(い)われるどれだけ嬉(うれ)しいことか
    God knows how nice it feels to have a stranger thank you.
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これどれだけ待(ま)っていたことか
God knows how long I have waited for this!
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文法(ぶんぽう)勉強(べんきょう)するためのサイトを今(いま)まで何度(なんど)、試(ため)したことか
Until now, god knows how many sites I have tried learning grammar on!
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文(ぶん)プロがあってどんな便利(べんり)ことか
How convenient it is to have Bunpro!
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