Japanese edit

Alternative spelling
何ぼ

Etymology edit

Either a shift from 何ぼう (nanbō), in turn a shift from 何程 (nani hodo, what degree, what extent),[1][2] or a shift directly from 何程 (nani hodo, what degree, what extent).[3][4]

First attested in a text from 1518.[3]

Pronunciation edit

Adverb edit

なんぼ (nanbo

  1. [from 1518] (Kansai, Hokkaidō, Tōhoku) how much; how many (quantity or cost)
    Synonyms: いくら, いくつ
    そっちは(なん)
    Sotchi wa nanbo?
    How much is that one?
    なんぼあっても()
    nanbo atte mo ii
    however much (many) is fine
  2. [from 1686] (Kansai, Hokkaidō, Tōhoku) no matter how
  3. (Kansai, Hokkaidō, Tōhoku) how old
    Synonyms: 何歳, いくつ
    (ちょう)(じょ)(いま)(なん)
    Chōjo wa ima nanbo?
    How old is your oldest daughter now?

Noun edit

なんぼ (nanbo

  1. This term needs a translation to English. Please help out and add a translation, then remove the text {{rfdef}}.
    使(つか)えてなんぼ
    tsukaete nanbo
    (please add an English translation of this example)
    なんぼのもん
    nanbo no mon
    (please add an English translation of this example)
    (きず)ついてなんぼだよ
    kizu tsuite nanbo dayo
    No pain, no gain.

References edit

  1. ^ なんぼ”, in デジタル大辞泉 [Digital Daijisen]‎[1] (in Japanese), Tōkyō: Shogakukan, updated roughly every four months
  2. ^ Matsumura, Akira, editor (2006), 大辞林 [Daijirin] (in Japanese), Third edition, Tōkyō: Sanseidō, →ISBN
  3. 3.0 3.1 なんぼ”, in 日本国語大辞典 (Nihon Kokugo Daijiten, Nihon Kokugo Daijiten)[2] (in Japanese), concise edition, Tōkyō: Shogakukan, 2000
  4. 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 Kindaichi, Kyōsuke et al., editors (1997), 新明解国語辞典 [Shin Meikai Kokugo Jiten] (in Japanese), Fifth edition, Tōkyō: Sanseidō, →ISBN