いくら〜ても

• Reading: いくら〜ても
• Romaji: ikura~temo
• Pronunciation: /i.kɯ.ɾa ~ te.mo/

Meaning

No matter how much ~; however much one may ~. An expression indicating that the result does not change regardless of effort or degree.

A concessive pattern combining いくら (how much) with the て-form + も. Used to express that no matter how much someone does something, the outcome remains the same. Common patterns include いくら食べても太らない (no matter how much I eat, I don't gain weight) and いくら待っても来ない (no matter how long I wait, they don't come).

Examples

1. いくら勉強しても漢字が覚えられない。 No matter how much I study, I can't memorize the kanji.
2. いくら食べてもおなかがいっぱいにならない。 No matter how much I eat, I never get full.
3. いくら説明しても彼はわかってくれない。 No matter how much I explain, he just doesn't understand.

Usage Guide

Context: expressing frustration, concession, daily conversation

Tone: emphatic

Origin & History

Combination of いくら (ikura, how much — from 幾ら) and the concessive pattern ～ても (even if ~). Together they create a strong concessive meaning.

Cultural Context

Era: Classical

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal