こんなに・そんなに・あんなに・どんなに

こんなに, そんなに and あんなに mean "this much", "that much" and "that much (back then, over there)", and どんなに means "however much". They go in front of an adjective or a verb and say how far the quality or the action goes.

• こんなに – this much, the degree in front of the speaker
• そんなに – that much, the degree the listener has shown or mentioned
• あんなに – that much, a degree both people remember or can see from a distance
• どんなに – however much, no matter how

None of them goes straight before a noun: ×こんなに本. Before a noun the word is こんな, a separate point.

そんなに with a negative

With a negative, そんなに means "not that", "not very". It plays down a degree the other person suggested, or one you might expect.

In a positive sentence, そんなに reacts to what the other person said or did, often with surprise.

どんなに … ても

どんなに pairs with a て-form and も: "however much", "no matter how". The も is not optional.

• × どんなに高くて買います → どんなに高くても買います

Usage notes

These go beyond the degree words themselves.

どんなに … か

In writing and in heartfelt speech, どんなに with か at the end is an exclamation: "how much …!".