そんな

• Reading: そんな
• Romaji: sonna
• Pronunciation: /soɴ.na/

Meaning

Such; like that; that sort of. A pre-noun adjectival referring to something near the listener or previously mentioned.

One of the こそあど demonstrative series (こんな, そんな, あんな, どんな). そんな modifies nouns and indicates something associated with the listener or a topic just mentioned. Can express surprise or disbelief, as in そんなことない (that is not true). Also used emotionally: そんな! (No way!).

Examples

1. そんなに急がなくてもいいですよ。 You don't have to be in such a hurry.
2. そんな難しい問題はわかりません。 I don't understand such a difficult problem.
3. そんなことを言わないでください。 Please don't say things like that.

Usage Guide

Context: daily conversation, expressing surprise, descriptions

Tone: neutral

Origin & History

From the demonstrative それ (sore, that) combined with the adjectival suffix な (na). Part of the systematic こそあど (ko-so-a-do) demonstrative system in Japanese.

Cultural Context

Era: Classical

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal