Synonym Nuance VS
How to say "How" in Japanese
Both words can translate to "how", but which should you choose?
Japanese Option A
いくら
いくら (ikura)
N5 / CEFR Syllabus
VS
Japanese Option B
どう
どう (dō)
N5 / CEFR Syllabus
Nuance Contrast & Translation Difference
When translating "how" into Japanese, you must choose carefully between いくら and どう.
In Japanese, いくら (いくら (ikura)) is typically associated with "how much (price)" (Syllabus Level: N5) and represents Interrogative pronoun primarily used to ask about the price of something..
On the other hand, どう (どう (dō)) maps to "how, in what way" (Syllabus Level: N5) and represents Interrogative adverb used to ask about manner, condition, or opinion.. A literal translation of "how" can often sound unnatural to native Japanese speakers if mixed up!
Bilingual Context for "いくら"
このりんごはいくらですか。
How much is this apple?
Bilingual Context for "どう"
日本語の勉強はどうですか。
How is your Japanese study?
Nuance Mastery Quiz
Which Japanese word perfectly fits this blank space?
Fill in the blank: "このりんごは ＿＿＿ ですか。" (Meaning: "How much is this apple?")
🎉 Correct Answer!
Remember: "いくら" fits here because it means "how much (price)" in the context of: "How much is this apple?". "どう" represents "how, in what way".