そんなに — That much / To that extent
Refers to a degree or extent understood from context ('that much, to that extent'). Very often used with a negative: そんなに〜ない = 'not that much.' Can also express surprise at a large extent.
Structure
そんなに + [adj/verb] | そんなに〜ない
Examples
そんなに難しくないよ。大丈夫。
Sonna ni muzukashiku nai yo. Daijoubu.
It's not that difficult. You'll be fine.
そんなに〜ない = not to that degree
そんなに食べたら、お腹を壊すよ。
Sonna ni tabetara, onaka wo kowasu yo.
If you eat that much, you'll get a stomachache.
そんなに = to that (excessive) extent
そんなに急がなくてもいいよ。
Sonna ni isoganakute mo ii yo.
You don't have to rush that much.
そんなに急がなくても = no need to hurry to that degree
• Degree demonstratives: こんなに (this much, near speaker), そんなに (that much, in context / near listener), あんなに (that much, known to both / over there), どんなに (however much, no matter how). • そんなに〜ない is a very common conversational softener ('not really that…').
Commonly confused with
The JLPT rarely asks whether you recognise a pattern — it asks which of several similar patterns fits. These are the ones そんなに is tested against.
vs こんなに / あんなに
こんなに points to a degree close to the speaker's here-and-now; あんなに to a degree both parties already know or that's remote; そんなに to a degree in the current context or the listener's side.
vs あまり〜ない
あまり〜ない = 'not very / not much' in general. そんなに〜ない = 'not THAT much,' referencing a specific expected degree from context.
More adverbs
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