どんなに～ても
🃏 Flashcard
どんなに～ても
donna ni~temo
Tap to reveal usage
no matter how (much)
N3
Tap to test your recall · +10 XP
📊 Pattern Stats
JLPT Level
N3
Intermediate · Expressing nuance & contrast
Reading
donna ni~temo
Post ID
50832
Patterns today
0
0 / 10 daily goal
📝 Usage Notes
no matter how (much)
📖 How to use it
Expresses 'no matter how much' or 'even if to any degree', emphasizing that a result or situation holds regardless of the extent.
Attaches to
Attach ても to the て-form of a verb or adjective (e.g., 食べても, 高くても). For な-adjectives and nouns, use でも after the stem (e.g., 静かでも, 子供でも). The pattern is どんなに + [て-form] + も.
This pattern is used to say that no matter how much you do something or how extreme a condition is, the outcome is the same. It often combines with どんなに to mean 'no matter how (much)'. The ても part can be attached to verbs, い-adjectives, な-adjectives, and nouns, but the form changes: verbs and い-adjectives use て/で forms, while な-adjectives and nouns take でも. The pattern is common in both speaking and writing, though in casual speech どんなに is often shortened to どんだけ (but that's very informal). The emphasis is on the speaker's feeling that the effort or condition is extreme, yet the result doesn't change.
どんなに勉強しても、テストでいい点が取れない。
Donna ni benkyou shite mo, tesuto de ii ten ga tore nai.
No matter how much I study, I can't get a good score on the test.
どんなに高くても、この車を買いたい。
Donna ni takakute mo, kono kuruma o kaitai.
No matter how expensive it is, I want to buy this car.
どんなに静かでも、図書館では話さないでください。
Donna ni shizuka demo, toshokan de wa hanasanaide kudasai.
No matter how quiet it is, please don't talk in the library.
Not いくら～ても
Both mean 'no matter how much', but どんなに emphasizes the degree or manner, while いくら emphasizes the amount or number. They are often interchangeable, but どんなに can also be used with adjectives meaning 'no matter how (adjective)', whereas いくら is more limited to quantity.
Register
Neutral; used in both spoken and written Japanese, though in very casual speech you might hear どんだけ～ても, but stick to どんなに for standard use.
🎯 Quick Quiz
What does this grammar pattern mean or do?
どんなに～ても
📚 How to Master This Pattern
Say It Aloud
Press Hear it and repeat どんなに～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 どんなに～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 どんなに～ても mean?
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No matter how (much)
What JLPT level is どんなに～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 どんなに～ても in a sentence?
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Attach どんなに～ても (donna ni~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 どんなに～ても formal or casual Japanese?
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どんなに～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 どんなに～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.