How to use こんな ( = konna) / そんな ( = sonna) / あんな ( = anna)

konnasonna

Levo: 「あの〜そろそろおやつの時間なんですが…」

= Anoo.. Sorosoro oyatsu no jikan nan desuga…

= Um….I think it is time for a snack, you know..

 !sleepy! 「そんな目で見つめられたらいやと言えないなあ…」

= Sonna me de mitsumeraretara iya to ienai naa…

= How can I say no to those eyes.

Hello everyone!

Today’s guest teacher is Levo Sensei. He is only 7 months old but he asked if he could be our guest teacher today.

His sister told me he is a very calm kitten. I am mesmerized by his beautiful eyes. !CHECKHEART!

I think he KNOWS he can get anything with those eyes!

****************************************************************

Hello I am Levo, and I will be your teacher today! Do I know I have beautiful eyes?  Of course I do. Where is my snack?

Today, we will study when to use こんな ( = konna)、そんな ( = sonna)、あんな ( = anna)

Maggie Sensei taught you この ( = kono) this 、その ( = sono) that, the 、あの ( = ano) that   in her こそあど言葉( = kosoado kotoba) lesson before.

こんな ( = konna)、そんな ( = sonna)、あんな ( = anna) are much stronger  in many ways and  they  involves certain emotions.

*こんな ( = konna) such (a),  this kind, something like this

*そんな ( = sonna) such(a),  that kind,  something like that

*あんな ( = anna)  such(a),  that kind,  something like that

★How to form:

1) modifying a noun:

*こんな ( = konna) / そんな ( = sonna) / あんな ( = anna) + noun

*こんな( = konnani) / そんな( = sonnani) / あんな( = annani) + noun + verb

2) modifying an adjective:

*こんな ( = konna)/ そんな (=sonna)/ あんな ( = anna) + adjective + noun

*こんな( = konnani) / そんな( = sonnani) / あんな( = annani) + adjective + noun

3) modifying a verb:

*こんな(=konnani) / そんな(=sonnani) / あんな(=annani) + verb

 

 !star! Which one to use: こんな ( = konna) / そんな ( = sonna) / あんな( = anna)

1) Physical distance from a speaker.

* こんな  ( = konna)
:u:

*Referring to something close to you:

Ex.こんな車が欲しかった。

= Konna kuruma ga hoshikatta.

= I’ve always wanted to have a car like this.

*Referring to something that happened recently.  (It could be some news that you are watching right now.)

Ex. こんなことが起きるなんて信じられない。

= Konna koto ga okiru nante shinjirarenai.

= I can’t believe this kind of thing happened.

*そんな ( = sonna)

*Referring to something a little far from you:

Ex. そんな靴、履いて行くの?

= Sonna kutsu, haite iku no?

= Are you going to wear shoes like those?

*Referring to something/someone which someone has just mentioned.  Reacting to what someone has just said.

Ex. そんなこと言わないで。

= Sonna koto iwanai de.

= Don’t tell me such a thing. (Don’t tell me that.)

Ex. A:「彼、隣のクラスの背の高いモデルみたいな子が好きなんだって。」

= Kare,  tonari no kurasu no se no takai moderu mitai na ko  ga sukinandatte.

= I heard he likes a tall girl in the next class who looks like a model.

B:そんな女の子いたかなあ。」

= Sonna onna no ko ita kanaa?

= I wonder if there was such a girl….

Ex. A:「明日、10:00に集まろうか?」

= Ashita, juuji ni atsumarou ka?

= Why don’t we get together at 10:00 pm tomorrow?

B:そんな遅い時間には出かけられません。」

= Sonna osoi jikan niwa dekakeraremasen.

= I can’t go out that late.

Ex. A:「この間、私のこと太ったって言ったでしょ。」

= Kono aida, watshi no koto futottatte itta desho.

= You told me I got fat, the other day didn’t you?

B:そんなひどいことを言うわけないよ。」

= Sonna hidoi koto wo iu wake naiyo.

= There is no way I would say such a horrible thing to you.

*あんな  ( = anna)

*Referring to something far away.

Ex. あんな家に住みたくない?

= Anna ie ni sumitaku nai?

Don’t you want to live in a house like that?

Ex. あんな奴のことはもう忘れたら?

= Annna yatsu no koto wa mou wasuretara?

= Just forget about him already!

*Referring something that is happening in distance.

(Watching a cooking show on TV)

Ex. あんな*簡単にパンが焼けるんだ。

= Anna kantan ni pan ga yakerunda.

= Wow, you can bake bread just like that?

(Note: If  you are watching the show and you are so involved as if it is happening in front of you now, you can use こんな ( = konnna))

*Referring to something that happened in the past.

Ex. あんなことはもう忘れなさい。

= Anna koto wa mou wasurenasai.

= Forget about such a thing. (Forget about that.)

*********************
:jjj: こんな ( = konna)/ そんな ( = sonna)/ あんな ( = anna) + noun

 

1) こんな ( = konna)/ そんな ( = sonna)/ あんな ( = anna) involves a speaker’s emotion. It could be negative or positive.

For example if you see your friend reading a difficult book,  you can say with surprised feelings

Ex. こんな  (難しい)本、読んでいるの?

= Konna (muzukashii ) hon, yonde iru no?

= You are reading such a  difficult book?

But if your friend is reading a stupid book or dirty book, you can also say in disgust,

Ex. こんな  (くだらない)本、読んでいるの?

= Konna (kudaranai) hon, yonde iru no?

= You are reading this/such a stupid a book?

 

2) To use こんな ( = konna)/ そんな ( = sonna)/ あんな ( = anna) + noun in a negative way.

こんな ( = konnna) そんな ( = sonnna) あんな ( = anna)  are sometimes used to belittle something/someone and it could sound very condescending. So be careful when you use them.

Ex. こんな人にどうして仕事を任せたの?

= Konna hito ni doushite shigoto wo makaseta no?

= Why did you leave a job to someone like him/her?  (implying that person is an idiot / useless / lazy or with some kind of problems.)

Ex. こんな田舎では商売にならない。

= Konna inaka dewa shoubai ni naranai.

= I can’t run a business in such a countryside.

Ex. そんな国に何が出来るんだろう。

= Sonna kuni ni nani ga dekirundarou.

= I wonder what that kind of country could do.

 :rrrr: (belittling the country)

Ex. そんな言葉を使ってはいけません。

= Sonna kotoba wo tsukatte wa ikemasen.

= You shouldn’t use that kind of (bad) language.

Ex. あんな男の言うことを聞いたらいけないよ。

= Anna otoko no iu koto wo kiitara ikenaiyo.

= Don’t listen to such a guy.

(Implying you can’t trust that guy.)

Ex. あんな会社はやめてしまえば?

= Anna kaisha wa y amete shimaeba?

=Why don’t you quit such a company?

Ex. あんな人、もう知らない!

= Anna hito, mou shiranai!

= I had enough of him/her (← such a person) !

3) You use them referring yourself being more humble.

Ex. こんな私でもお役に立ててよかったです。

= Konna watashi demo oyaku ni tatete yokattadesu.

= I am glad to hear I could help you.

(Implying….Even though I am useless.)

Ex.こんな家でもよければいつでもまた来て下さい。

=  Konna  ie demo yokereba itsudemo mata kite kudasai.

= If my house is OK,  please come over anytime again.

(Implying your house could be  small, shabby, etc.)

Ex. 本当にこんな私でもいいの?(Female speech)

= Hontou ni konna watashi demo ii no?

Am I good enough for you? Are you sure?

(belittling yourself. Expressing you are aware of your flaws.)

4)  To use こんな ( = konna)/ そんな ( = sonna)/ あんな ( = anna) + noun in a positive way.

Ex. こんなセーターを探していたの。

= Konna seetaa wo sagashite itano.

= I have been looking for this kind of sweater.

Ex. あんな家に住めていいね。

= Anna ie ni sumete iine.

= It must be great to live in such a house.

5) To show your emotion or surprise.

Ex. そんなことがあったんだ。

= Sonna koto ga attan da.

= I had no idea such a thing happened to you.

(Expressing your surprised feelings.)

Ex. こんなこともあるんだね。

= Konna koto mo arundane.

= This kind of thing happens, huh?

**************
こんな ( = konna)/ そんな ( = sonna)/ あんな ( = anna) + adjective + noun

1) Emphasizing the adjective that comes after. (It could be negative or positive depending on the adjective.)

*When you refer to a person right next to you.

Ex. こんな素晴らしい人と結婚できて幸せです。

= Konna subarashii hito to kekkon deki te shiawase desu.

= I am very happy to be able to get married to this wonderful person.

*When someone just told  you something horrible.

Ex. そんなことを言うなんてひどい!

= Sonna  koto wo iu nante hidoi!

= How dare you to say such terrible things.

:rrrr: If you are remembering the time when someone told you something horrible.

Ex. あんなことを言うなんてひどい!

= Anna hidoi koto wo iu nante.

= That was awful thing for him/her/them to say.

*********

* Referring to the weather:

Ex. こんないい天気の日に家にいるのはもったいない。(positive)

= Konna ii tenki no hi ni ie ni iru nowa mottainai.

= I don’t want to waste this lovely weather staying home.

Ex. こんな悪い天気の日に出かけるの? (negative)

= Konna warui tenki no  hi ni dekakeru no?

= Are you going out in weather like this?

*******

*When you see someone with a beautiful girlfriend

Ex. こんなきれいな彼女がいたなんて知らなかった。

= Sonna kireina kanojo ga itanante shiranakatta.

= I didn’t know you had such a beautiful girlfriend.

If you are remembering the time when you saw someone’s girlfriend,

Ex. あんなきれいな彼女がいたなんて知らなかった。

= Anna kireina kanojo ga itanante shiranakatta.

= I didn’t know you/he had such a beautiful girlfriend.

If you just heard someone had a beautiful girlfriend,

Ex. そんなきれいな彼女がいたなんて知らなかった。

= Sonna kireina kanojo ga itanante shiranakatta.

= I didn’t know he had such a beautiful girlfriend.

(Note: You have never met her.)

*******

*When you are remembering the time when you went to an expensive place.

Ex. あんな高い店にはもう行けない。

= Anna takai mise niwa mou ikenai.

= I won’t able to go to such an expensive restaurant (shop or bar).

*******

*When you are looking at the nice dress,

Ex. こんな素敵なドレスが欲しい。

= Konna sutekina doresu ga hoshii

= I would love to have such a pretty dress.

*******

*When someone is trying to give you something valuable.

Ex. そんな大切な物は頂けません。

= Sonna taisetsu na mono wa itadakemasen.

=I can’t accept such a valuable thing.

*********

*When you are remembering the time when you saw your friend’s boyfriend:

Ex. あんな優しい彼がいていいね。

= Anna yasashii kare ga ite iine.

= I envy you for having such a sweet boyfriend.

You have never met your friend’s boyfriend but your friend has told you how sweet he is:

Ex. んな優しい彼がいていいね。

= Sonna yasashii kare ga ite iine.

= I envy you for having such a sweet boyfriend.

If the boyfriend is physically near you and does something that shows how sweet he is:

Ex. こんな優しい彼がいていいね。

= Konna yasashii kare ga ite iine.

= You are lucky to have this  sweet boyfriend.

*********

*When you just heard something that you can’t believe.

Ex. そんな馬鹿な…

= Sonna bakana…

= (Expression) It is impossible/ It can’t be true.

********************************

You can modify verbs or adjective+noun in the following forms:

*こんな  ( = konna) →こんな( = konnani)

*そんな  ( = sonna) →そんな( = sonnani)

*あんな  ( = anna) →あんな( = annani)

You use こんな( = konnani)/そんなに ( = sonnani)/あんなに  ( = annani) to emphasize what comes after.

1) こんなに  ( = konnani) / そんなに  ( = sonnani) / あんなに  ( = annani) + verb/ noun+verb

 :jjj: Which one to use:

When you are talking about your own action or feelings use:

 :rrrr: こんな( = konnani),

When you are talking to a person about their actions, use:

 :rrrr: そんな( = sonnani)

and if you are talking about the third person or your past actions, use:

 :rrrr: あんな( = annani)

*Talking about your current feelings:

Ex. こんなに人を好きになるのは初めてです。

= Konnani hito wo suki ni naru nowa hajimete desu.

= It is my first time to love with someone this much.

* Talking about your feelings in the past:

Ex. あんなに人を好きになることはもうないだろう。

= Annani hito wo sukini ni naru koto wa mou nai darou.

= I won’t be able to love someone like that anymore.

Note: There are cases you use こんなに ( = konnani) for someone who is very close to you.

Ex. こんなに震えて、かわいそうに。

= Konnani furuete,  kawaisouni.

= You are shivering so much. You poor thing..

* Talking to the person who is close to you.:

Ex. そんなに食べたら太るよ。

= Sonnani tabetara futoruyo.

= If you eat that much, you will gain weight.

*Talking about the third person.:

Ex.彼は、あんなに働いて給料が少ないなんてかわいそうだ。

= Kare wa, anna ni hatarasite kyuuryouga sukunai nante kawaisouda.

= I feel sorry for him working so hard for such a small salary.

2) こんな( = konnani) / そんな( = sonnani) / あんな( = annani) + adjective + noun

*Talking about something in front of you.:

Ex. こんなに美味しい料理が作れるなんてすごいね。

= Konnani oishii ryouri ga tsukureru nante sugoine.

= It is great that you get to cook this delicious food!

Ex. こんなにたくさんの人に来て頂けてうれしいです。

=Konnani takusan no hito ni kite itadakete ureshii desu.

= I am so happy to have all these people. (←I am very happy that so many people came)

*Talking to the person who is close to you about their actions:

Ex. そんなに一杯クッキーを焼いたの?

= Sonnani ippai kukkii wo yaitano?

= You baked that many cookies?  (That’s a lot of cookies you baked)

Ex. そんなに働かなくてもいいのに。

= Sonnani hataranakanakute mo iinoni

= You shouldn’t work that hard…

Ex. そんなに彼に会いたいの?

= Sonnani kare ni aitai no?

= You want to see him that much?

*Talking about the third person or past event.

Ex. あんなに冷たい人だとは思わなかった。

= Annani tsumetai hito dato wa omowanakatta.

=I had no idea  he/she was such a cold hearted person.

Ex. あんなに雨が降るとは思わなかった。

= Annani ame ga furu to wa omowanakatta.

= I didn’t think it would rain that much.

 

これでレッスンを終わります。

= Kore de ressun wo owarimasu.

= I will wrap up the lesson now.

読んでくれてありがとう!

= Yonde kurete arigatou!

= Thank you for reading!

さあ、おやつはどこかな?

= Saa oyatsu wa dokokana?

= So where is my snack?

 

 

maggie-senseiマギー先生より= Maggie Sensei yori = From Maggie Sensei

 Levo先生、ありがとう!

= Levo Sensei, arigatou!

= Thank you, Levo Sensei!

こんなに長いレッスンになるとは思わなかったでしょう。

= Konnani nagai ressun ni naru to wa omowanakatta deshou.

I bet you didn’t think this lesson would be this long.

***

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31 Comments

  1. おはよう先生!
    I would like to ask you about this sentence:
    “あんなののどこがいいんだか”
    I have trouble understanding the double no and the use of doko in this sentence
    (The character basically says that she doesn’t see what is good in an other character). Could you please help me ?

    1. おはよう ピエル

      Ah I see.
      You usually use どこ to indicate “place(s)” or “part(s)”
      When you say
      Ex. A のどこか好き?
      That means
      “What do you like about A? ”

      So when you ask about what part of A (including personality, appearance and behaviors, etc.), you use どこ

        1. OK,
          Noun + の+ どこがいい
          The first の is for nominalization.
          あんなの=(implies あんな人・あんなやつ) That kind of things/person (derogatory) = That one / That guy/woman

  2. What is the difference between, for example, こういうandこんな?
    Eg. こんな人vsそういう人。
    Perhaps this has been explained elsewhere. If so, please direct me to it.
    Thank you.

  3. マギー先生、こんにちは!
    これは初めてのコメントです。よろしくお願いします。

    まずレッスンに関係がないのは:
    「彼、隣のクラスの背の高いモデルみたいな子が好きなんだって。」
    どうして「背が高くてモデルみたいな子」使わないんですか。

    あと、「どんな」と「どの」どう違いますか。

    いつもこんな役に立って詳しいレッスンを書いてくれてありがとう!

    1. こんにちは、カミ!

      背の高いモデルみたいな子
      背が高くてモデルみたいな子

      両方言います。
      違いですが、
      「背が高くてモデルみたいな子」は、二つの特徴があります。
      ⓵背が高い tall + (and also) ⓶モデルみたい (model-like)
      a tall and model-like girl
      「背の高いモデルみたいな子」
      も同じように⓵背が高い tall + (and also) ⓶モデルみたい (model-like) の意味で使うこともありますが、
      背が高い tallが「モデルみたいな」を修飾しています。
      a tall model-like girl.

  4. Hi Maggie! Thank you for another great lesson!

    Can you please explain me these two examples from the last topic, which are:

    Ex. あんなに冷たい人だとは思わなかった。

    = Annani tsumetai hito dato wa omowanakatta.

    =I had no idea he/she was such a cold hearted person.

    Ex. あんなに雨が降るとは思わなかった。

    = Annani ame ga furu to wa omowanakatta.

    = I didn’t think it would rain that much.

    My question is, why you use the particle は in these sentences?
    I understand that は indicates the topic of the sentence but, can I just say あんなに冷たい人だと思わなかった and あんなに雨が降ると思わなかった ?

    Again thank you so much for this great lesson and know that I have two notebooks only with your lessons! They are really helping me!

    1. Hi Eliza,

      Wow! You have two notebooks with my lessons? I’m impressed!!
      You can say と思わなかった but by adding は (とは) you stress what comes before so that you can express your surprised feelings more.

      1. Thank you for the reply!

        Yes, I have two notebooks. I already filled one (wich has 100 sheets), and I am finishing the second notebook (wich has 200 sheets). Soon I will start to fill the third notebook.

  5. Thanks for the lesson Maggie-sensei!
    I have a question about the use of そんなの (sonnano). I’ve read it’s used to talk about something undesirable or when you want to look down on it. Is this always the case? This word was used in a manga I read. If you don’t mind, I’ll tell you. Boy and girl like each other, but boy is open about his feelings while girl is still in denial. They will spend 3 days together for a school camp, so the girls tells him “Are you sure you will be able to control yourself?” boy gets worried since girl keeps teasing him about it and says “I’ll make sure I do, I was thinking I needed it to control myself around you, regardless. I don’t want to be hated by you”. Then the girl replies with べつにそんなの. Was her reply kind of rude? I mean, both べつに and そんなの are used to express indiference and lack of concern/interest, so I don’t know how to understand that reply… What would be the best way to translate it? Thank you in advance :)

    1. Hi Romina

      As I wrote in the lesson あんな・こんな・こんな could be both negative or positive but it expresses speaker’s emotion.

      If she finishes the sentence with
      べつにそんなの
      or
      べつにそんなこと…
      I need to read the scene but I think she is showing her interest.
      She is denying what the boy just said “I don’t want you to be hated by you. (君にきらわれたくない?)” in a subtle way.
      The translation could be,
      I wouldn’t say that’s true.(implying she likes him)

  6. Thanks For Lesson #Maggie_Sensei !CHECKHEART!
    But I’ve Got A Mark; While I’ve Been Watching Anime, I Used To Hear Sentence Like:
    (“N Na” Koto / “N Na” Mono), And I Thought If “N Na” Could Be A Kind Of Abbreviation Of (Anna)
    Is It A Way Of Sense ?!

    1. @Kibounokata

      Hi Kibounokata,
      Yes you sometimes drop the first letter, (especially そ)
      Ex. んなことあるわけないだろ。(rough/male speech)
      = There is no way.

  7. 明けましておめでとう!
    この文法をずっと習いたかったけどやっとできた!なかなか紛らわしいもの…
    教えてくれてありがとう!

  8. Hello,

    New user that’s just starting to use the site here.

    I wanted to report that the ~方 link on the Main Lesson index actually links here, instead of the described lesson.

  9. こんにちは、ウンベルトです!
    しばらくの間マギー先生のサイトを訪問してきた事実にもかかわらず、これは僕がコメントをする初めてです。これからよろしくお願いします!いつものようにグレートレッスン。  :wink:

    1. @Humberto

      こんにちは、ウンベルト!はじめまして!
      そして初めてのコメントうれしいです!これからもよろしくね!!
      コメントに日本語を書いてくれたら日本語のお手伝いをしますよ。よかったらいつでもここで日本語の練習をして下さいね。
      (A little correction. しばらくの間マギー先生のサイトを訪問してきた事実にもかかわらず、これは僕がコメントをする初めてです。→to sound more natural ずっとマギー先生のサイトに来ていたのですが、コメントをするのは初めてです。)

      1. はい!手伝ってくれてありがとう、あまり書かないから ちょっと下手です へへ。 
        まだ練習する必要があるので、もっと参加します。

        1. @Humberto

          いえいえ、ウンベルトの日本語はとってもよく書けていますよ。
          これからもがんばってくださいね。

      1. sensei what is the difference between below sentence
        こんな優しい人
        優しい感じの人
        人は優しそう
        and another example sentences are
        こんな人が悪い
        こんな感じの人が悪い
        このような人が悪い
        and what is nuance when we use 感じ in this sentwnce

        1. こんな優しい人 Such a nice person (You know that person is nice.)
          優しい感じの人/優しそう a person who seems/looks nice.(I already explained the nuance difference in my previous comment but these two)

          1) こんな人が悪い
          2) こんな感じの人が悪い
          3) このような人が悪い
          The translation is the same. This kind of person is bad.

          1) and 3) are the same (こんな is more conversational ) and more specific about the person compared to 2)
          2) is more based on one’s impressions.

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