JLPT N3 grammar

いくら〜てもmeaning and usage

Meaning

No matter (how much) A

How to form it

  • いくらverb (te-form)も
  • いくらい-adjective (-く form)ても
  • いくらな-adjective (stem)/nounでも

How it is used

However much or however often A happens, the result stays the same; the second half is often negative or disappointing. Close in meaning to 「どんなに〜ても」 and usually interchangeable with it.

Examples

  1. いくら私が寛容でも許せないこともある。

    No matter how open-minded I am, there are things that I cannot forgive.

  2. いくら待っても、バスが来ない。

    No matter how long I wait, the bus doesn't come.

  3. いくら安くても、使わない物は買いません。

    However cheap it is, I don't buy things I won't use.