いくら～ても
🃏 Flashcard
いくら～ても
ikura~temo
Tap to reveal usage
no matter how~
N3
Tap to test your recall · +10 XP
📊 Pattern Stats
JLPT Level
N3
Intermediate · Expressing nuance & contrast
Reading
ikura~temo
Post ID
50843
Patterns today
0
0 / 10 daily goal
📝 Usage Notes
no matter how~
📖 How to use it
Expresses that regardless of the degree or amount, the result does not change.
Attaches to
Attach いくら to the て-form of verbs or い-adjectives, followed by も (e.g., ～ても). For な-adjectives and nouns, this pattern is not typically used; instead, どんなに～ても or ～でも is used.
This pattern means "no matter how much" or "even if one does a lot". It emphasizes that an action or state continues or is repeated, but the outcome is unaffected. The verb or い-adjective is in the て-form followed by も. Note that いくら is often omitted if the context is clear, but it adds the sense of "however much". The pattern is common in both speech and writing, and も is always included in standard Japanese.
いくら待っても、バスは来なかった。
Ikura matte mo, basu wa konakatta.
No matter how long I waited, the bus didn't come.
いくら練習しても、上達しない。
Ikura renshuu shite mo, joutatsu shinai.
No matter how much I practice, I don't improve.
いくら安くても、要らないものは買わない。
Ikura yasukute mo, iranai mono wa kawanai.
No matter how cheap it is, I won't buy things I don't need.
Not どんなに～ても
Both mean "no matter how", but いくら focuses on quantity or degree, while どんなに focuses on manner or extent. Often interchangeable, but いくら is more colloquial.
Register
Neutral to slightly informal; used in both conversation and writing, but in very formal writing いかに～ても is preferred.
🎯 Quick Quiz
What does this grammar pattern mean or do?
いくら～ても
📚 How to Master This Pattern
Say It Aloud
Press Hear it and repeat いくら～ても three times. Feel the rhythm — grammar patterns have a natural flow.
Flip Before Reading
Always try to recall the usage before flipping the card. Struggle = learning. Every failed recall makes the next one stick harder.
Write Two Sentences
Compose two original sentences using いくら～ても. One about yourself, one about something you see right now.
Spaced Review
Save this pattern and revisit at 10 min, 1 day, 3 days. Production (writing) beats recognition for grammar.
🔗 More JLPT N3 Patterns
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
What does the grammar pattern いくら～ても mean?
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No matter how~
What JLPT level is いくら～ても?
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Nihoner currently groups this pattern under JLPT N3 — Intermediate · Expressing nuance & contrast. Use the level label as study guidance rather than a prediction of what will appear on an exam.
How do you use いくら～ても in a sentence?
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Attach いくら～ても (ikura~temo) to the appropriate verb or noun form as described in the usage notes. Then try writing two original sentences — one about yourself and one about something around you.
Is いくら～ても formal or casual Japanese?
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いくら～ても is used in both casual and polite contexts. It appears frequently in everyday conversation, textbooks, and simple written materials.
How can I remember いくら～ても long-term?
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Use the flashcard on this page for active recall — see the pattern, reconstruct the usage from memory, then flip. Follow with the 4-choice quiz to distinguish it from similar patterns. Review later the same day and again over the following days. Writing original sentences can help you practise using the pattern in context.