どんなに～ても means no matter how (much) ~; regardless of how ~. It is a JLPT N3 grammar pattern used to express that a result does not change regardless of degree or effort.
This grammar point often appears in neutral Japanese. If you want to express unchanging results despite varying degrees of effort, どんなに～ても is a useful pattern to learn.
What does どんなに～ても mean?
Use どんなに～ても when you want to express that a result does not change regardless of degree or effort.
Natural translations include:
- no matter how (much) ~
- no matter how (much) ~; regardless of how ~
- no matter how much
How to form どんなに～ても
どんなに + Verb て-form + も / どんなに + い-adjective + くても
Examples of the pattern:
- どんなに頑張っても
- どんなに高くても
- どんなに食べても
When is どんなに～ても used?
Use どんなに～ても in situations like:
- expressing limits
- complaining
- explaining unchanging facts
Tone and register:
- neutral
- Common in expressing limits, test questions, and written narratives
どんなに～ても example sentences
- どんなに頑張っても、合格できなかった。 \u2014 No matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t pass.
- どんなに高くても、買うつもりだ。 \u2014 No matter how expensive it is, I intend to buy it.
- どんなに食べても、太らない。 \u2014 No matter how much I eat, I don’t gain weight.
- どんなに待っても、彼は来なかった。 \u2014 No matter how long I waited, he didn’t come.
- どんなに言っても、聞かない。 \u2014 No matter what I say, they won’t listen.
Nuance of どんなに～ても
The key nuance is emphasizes unchanging results despite varying degrees of effort or condition.
This matters because 〜どんなに…ても focuses on emotional or absolute extremes. When the outcome is stubbornly unchanged, this pattern captures the frustration or resignation..
For example:
- In expressing limits, it sounds natural and specific.
- Compared with いくら～ても, it carries a different weight and implication.
どんなに～ても vs いくら～ても
Both どんなに～ても and いくら～ても can express no matter how (much) ~, but they are different.
どんなに～ても:
- also means no matter how much; slightly more emotional and open-ended
いくら～ても:
- also means no matter how much; more focused on quantity or degree
Quick contrast examples:
- いくら高くても、買う。 \u2014 No matter how much it costs, I’ll buy it.
- どんなに高くても、買う。 \u2014 No matter how expensive it is, I’ll buy it.
Common mistakes with どんなに～ても
Watch out for these mistakes:
- Using it with nouns instead of adjectives or verbs (incorrect: どんなに先生でも)
- Forgetting to change い-adjectives to くても (incorrect: どんなに高いても)
- Using it positively when the result actually does change
Is どんなに～ても on the JLPT?
Yes. どんなに～ても is commonly taught as JLPT N3 grammar.
That means learners should be able to:
- recognize it in reading
- understand its nuance in context
- use it in simple original sentences
Practice questions for どんなに～ても
Try making your own sentences with these prompts:
- Say no matter how hard you study, it’s difficult.
- Express that no matter how expensive it is, you want it.
- Say no matter how much you explain, they don’t understand.
Learn どんなに～ても with Kanjiru
If you want to review どんなに～ても together with kanji, vocabulary, and other JLPT N3 patterns, Kanjiru helps you practice Japanese in short, focused sessions.
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