Grammar Info

N3 Lesson 4: 2/21

どんなに～てもNo matter how

Structure

どんな + （に） + Verb［ても］
どんな + （に） + ［い］Adjective［ても］
どんな + （に） + ［な］Adjective + でも
どんな + （に） + Noun + でも

Details

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About どんなに〜ても

As explained in the そんな grammar point, the こそあど言葉（ことば） may occasionally be seen in the forms こんな, そんな, あんな, or どんな. どんな itself is an abbreviation of どのような, meaning 'in what way', or 'what kind of'. When partnered with に (creating an adverb), and ても, どんなに～ても is used express a extent of something that is insufficient. It can be translated as 'no matter how (A), (B)'.

どんなに may be attached to any type of word, so long as that word is then followed by でも (in the case of nouns or な-Adjectives) or ても (in the case of い-Adjectives or verbs).

どんなに～ても can literally be translated as 'even if (A) is in however/whatever (way), (B)'.

Examples

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    どんなに頑張(がんば)っても無理(むり)だと思(おも)う。

    I think that it is impossible no matter how hard I try.

    どんなに笑(わら)われても、前(まえ)に進(すす)もう。

    No matter how much they laugh at us, let's keep pushing forward.

    どんなに勉強(べんきょう)しても、合格(ごうかく)できないと思(おも)う。

    No matter how much I study, I don't think that I can pass.

    どんなに暇(ひま)でも、掃除(そうじ)するつもりはない。

    No matter how bored I am, I won't even think about cleaning.

    どんなに苦(くる)しくても、僕(ぼく)はぜったいにあきらめない。

    I will never give up no matter how hard it is.

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どんなに〜ても – Grammar Discussion

Most Recent Replies (6 in total)

  • Fuga

    Fuga

    Since どうして means ‘why’, it would sound as unnatural as saying ‘Even if why hard it is, you have to accept reality.’ In sentences like this, where the speaker is trying to express ‘even if (A) is in however/whatever (way), (B)’, どんな works better since it has the meaning of ‘in what way’ or ‘what kind of’.

    I hope this clears it up!

  • simias

    simias

    That makes sense, I got confused because of どうしても, I thought “why not break the ても away?”

  • steffuld

    steffuld

    Is it acceptable to use どのように instead of どんなに in this context?

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