こんな, そんな and あんな mean "this kind of", "that kind of" and "that kind of (over there)", and どんな asks "what kind of". They go straight before a noun, with no in between.
- – like this, near the speaker
- – like that, near the listener or just mentioned
- – like that, away from both or known to both
- – what kind of
きごう？
What kind of music do you like?
。
I didn't expect to meet you in a place like this.
。
Please don't say things like that.
。
I don't want to get involved with a person like that.
こんな or この
points at one thing: "this book". こんな describes a kind: "a book like this". The same goes for そんな and
, あんな and
, どんな and
.
。
I wanted to read this book.
。
I wanted to read this kind of book.
きごう？
Which book do you like?
きごう？
What kind of books do you like?
Surprise and complaint
こんな, そんな and あんな often carry a feeling about the thing described – surprise, complaint, disbelief. そんな in particular pushes back at what the other person has just said.
きごう？
You forgot something that important?
。
I don't want to go out on a cold day like this.
Usage notes
These go beyond describing a noun in conversation.
,
,
and
mean the same. They are what you use in writing and in polite or formal speech.
。
What kind of work do you do?
Before an adjective or a verb, to say "this much", the words are , , and , a separate point.
Lingaku