Quadruple VS
Synonym Boundary: "いくら", "どう", "いくつ", "いかに"
All represent the core concept "how", but require precise selection.
Japanese Option A
いくら
いくら (ikura)
N5 / CEFR
Japanese Option B
どう
どう (dō)
N5 / CEFR
Japanese Option C
いくつ
いくつ (ikutsu)
N5 / CEFR
Japanese Option D
いかに
いかに (ikani)
N3 / CEFR
Quadruple VS Nuance Contrast & Social Differences
When expressing "how" in Japanese, you must carefully distinguish between "いくら", "どう", "いくつ", "いかに" based on context.
- いくら (いくら (ikura) - Level: N5): Maps to "how much (price)" and is used when Interrogative pronoun primarily used to ask about the price of something..
- どう (どう (dō) - Level: N5): Maps to "how, in what way" and is used when Interrogative adverb used to ask about manner, condition, or opinion..
- いくつ (いくつ (ikutsu) - Level: N5): Maps to "how many; how old" and is used when Used to ask 'how many' items or 'how old' a person is.
- いかに (いかに (ikani) - Level: N3): Maps to "how, in what way, how much, however much" and is used when A formal adverb used to emphasize 'how much' or 'to what extent'. Often followed by か.
Context for "いくら"
このりんごはいくらですか。
How much is this apple?
Context for "どう"
日本語の勉強はどうですか。
How is your Japanese study?
Context for "いくつ"
りんごがいくつありますか。 / お子さんはいくつですか。
How many apples are there? / How old is your child?
Context for "いかに"
彼がいかに努力したか、みんなが知っています。
Everyone knows how much effort he put in.
Synonym Mastery Challenge
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" is correct here because it represents "how much (price)" in the context: "How much is this apple?".