GRAMMAR
いくら〜でも
no matter how (much)
Explanation
NOTE
いくら〜ても means "no matter how much" — the result Y stays the same regardless of the quantity or effort.
いくらお金があっても、満足できない。
No matter how much money you have, you can't be satisfied.
Used here with a verb in the te-form to emphasize that even if a condition (having money) is met to an extreme, the result remains unchanged.
NOTE
Use いくら before a verb in て-form or an い-adjective in て-form, followed by も.
STRUCTURE
いくらVても
いくら待っても、来なかった。
Ikura matte mo, konakatta.
No matter how long I waited, she didn't come.
いくら説明しても、分かってくれない。
Ikura setsumei shitemo, wakatte kurenai.
No matter how much I explain, they don't understand.
いくら謝っても、許してもらえない。
Ikura ayamatte mo, yurushite moraenai.
No matter how much I apologize, I can't be forgiven.
STRUCTURE
いくらAdj-Iても
いくら安くても、質が悪ければ買わない。
Ikura yasukutemo, shitsu ga warukereba kawanai.
No matter how cheap it is, I won't buy it if the quality is bad.
いくら遠くても、行きたい。
Ikura tookutemo, ikitai.
No matter how far it is, I want to go.
いくら忙しくても、子供との時間は大切にしたい。
Ikura isogashikutemo, kodomo to no jikan wa taisetsu ni shitai.
No matter how busy I am, I want to cherish time with my children.
Practice exercises
1
いくら走っても、疲れない。
No matter how much I run, I don't get tired.
Answer
ても
2
いくら働いても、お金が貯まらない。
No matter how much I work, I can't save money.
Answer
ても
3
いくら頼んでも、手伝ってくれない。
No matter how much I ask, he won't help me.
Answer
でも
4
いくら高くても、買いたい。
No matter how expensive it is, I want to buy it.
Answer
ても
5
いくら暑くても、エアコンを使わない。
No matter how hot it is, I don't use the air conditioner.
Answer
ても
6
いくら悲しくても、泣かない。
No matter how sad I am, I don't cry.
Answer
ても
7
いくら文句を言っても、このルールは変わらない。
No matter how much you complain, this rule will not change.
Answer
文句を言っても
8
この服は、いくら高く高くても欲しい。
No matter how expensive this clothing is, I want it.
Answer
高く
9
この時計は、いくら修理しても直らない。
No matter how much I repair this watch, it doesn't get fixed.
Answer
ても
10
いくら謝っても、許してもらえない。
No matter how much I apologize, I can't be forgiven.
Answer
ても
11
いくら節約しても、生活費が足りない。
No matter how much I economize, my living expenses are not enough.
Answer
ても