いくら～ても means no matter how (much) ~; regardless of quantity ~. It is a JLPT N3 grammar pattern used to express that a result does not change regardless of amount, degree, or effort.
This grammar point often appears in neutral Japanese. If you want to express that quantity or degree does not change the result, いくら～ても is a useful pattern to learn.
What does いくら～ても mean?
Use いくら～ても when you want to express that a result does not change regardless of amount, degree, or effort.
Natural translations include:
- no matter how (much) ~
- no matter how (much) ~; regardless of quantity ~
- no matter how much
How to form いくら～ても
いくら + Verb て-form + も / いくら + い-adjective + くても
Examples of the pattern:
- いくら頑張っても
- いくら高くても
- いくら食べても
When is いくら～ても used?
Use いくら～ても in situations like:
- expressing limits
- complaining
- explaining unchanging facts
Tone and register:
- neutral
- Common in expressing limits, test questions, and written narratives
いくら～ても example sentences
- いくら頑張っても、合格できなかった。 \u2014 No matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t pass.
- いくら高くても、買うつもりだ。 \u2014 No matter how expensive it is, I intend to buy it.
- いくら食べても、太らない。 \u2014 No matter how much I eat, I don’t gain weight.
- いくら待っても、彼は来なかった。 \u2014 No matter how long I waited, he didn’t come.
- いくら言っても、聞かない。 \u2014 No matter what I say, they won’t listen.
Nuance of いくら～ても
The key nuance is emphasizes that quantity, degree, or effort makes no difference to the outcome.
This matters because いくら focuses on quantity and degree. It is more specific than どんなに and is often used when talking about time, money, or effort..
For example:
- In expressing limits, it sounds natural and specific.
- Compared with どんなに～ても, it carries a different weight and implication.
いくら～ても vs どんなに～ても
Both いくら～ても and どんなに～ても can express no matter how (much) ~, but they are different.
いくら～ても:
- more specific; focuses on quantity, amount, or degree
どんなに～ても:
- broader; focuses on kind, manner, or quality
Quick contrast examples:
- どんなに頑張っても、無理だ。 \u2014 No matter how I try, it’s impossible (any manner).
- いくら頑張っても、無理だ。 \u2014 No matter how hard I try, it’s impossible (amount of effort).
Common mistakes with いくら～ても
Watch out for these mistakes:
- Using it with non-quantifiable concepts where どんなに is better
- Forgetting to conjugate the verb before ても
- Adding だ after いくら (incorrect: いくらだ高くても)
Is いくら～ても on the JLPT?
Yes. いくら～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 いくら～ても
Try making your own sentences with these prompts:
- Say no matter how much 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 いくら～ても with Kanjiru
If you want to review いくら～ても together with kanji, vocabulary, and other JLPT N3 patterns, Kanjiru helps you practice Japanese in short, focused sessions.
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