Synonym Nuance VS
How to say "No" in Japanese
Both words can translate to "no", but which should you choose?
Japanese Option A
いくら__ても
いくら__ても (ikura__temo)
N3 / CEFR Syllabus
VS
Japanese Option B
到底
とうてい (toutei)
C1 / CEFR Syllabus
Nuance Contrast & Translation Difference
When translating "no" into Japanese, you must choose carefully between いくら__ても and 到底.
In Japanese, いくら__ても (いくら__ても (ikura__temo)) is typically associated with "no matter how much/many/long/etc.; however much/many/long/etc." (Syllabus Level: N3) and represents A grammatical pattern used to express that a certain result will not change, regardless of the extent or degree of the action or state in the first clause. Connects to the て-form of verbs or adjectives..
On the other hand, 到底 (とうてい (toutei)) maps to "by no means, (not) at all" (Syllabus Level: C1) and represents Essential structural term in CEFR C1 vocabulary syllabus.. A literal translation of "no" can often sound unnatural to native Japanese speakers if mixed up!
Bilingual Context for "いくら__ても"
いくら食べてもお腹がいっぱいにならない。
No matter how much I eat, I don't get full.
Bilingual Context for "到底"
私は到底に興味があります。
I am interested in by no means, (not) at all.
Nuance Mastery Quiz
Which Japanese word perfectly fits this blank space?
Fill in the blank: "いくら食べてもお腹がいっぱいにならない。" (Meaning: "No matter how much I eat, I don't get full.")
🎉 Correct Answer!
Remember: "いくら__ても" fits here because it means "no matter how much/many/long/etc.; however much/many/long/etc." in the context of: "No matter how much I eat, I don't get full.". "到底" represents "by no means, (not) at all".