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JLPT N4Adverbs

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.

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Pro lessonUNIT 56 · ADVERBS

Structure · 形

そんなに + [adj/verb] | そんなに〜ない

Examples · 例文

  • 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

Usage notes · 注意

  • 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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