こんな

§ What Does こんな Mean?

The Japanese word こんな (konna) is a determiner that means 'this kind of' or 'such'. It's super useful for talking about things that are similar to something you're pointing to or referring to at that moment. Think of it as a way to say 'like this' when describing a noun.

You'll often hear こんな when people are expressing their feelings about something's quality, size, or general nature. It's connected to the demonstrative これ (this), implying closeness to the speaker.

§ How to Use こんな

Using こんな is straightforward. It always comes directly before the noun it modifies. It acts like an adjective, but it's not actually an adjective – it's a determiner. This means it doesn't change its form based on what noun it's describing.

Structure

こんな + Noun

Let's look at some examples to make this clear. You'll see how versatile こんな is for describing various characteristics.

Hint

I like this kind of book.

Hint

I saw such a big house for the first time.

§ Expressing Feelings with こんな

こんな isn't just for objective descriptions; it's often used to convey emotion or a subjective viewpoint. When you say 'such a thing' or 'this kind of problem', you might be implying a sense of surprise, frustration, or admiration.

For instance, if something unexpected or difficult happens, you might use こんな to express your reaction.

Hint

This is the first time I've encountered such difficult Japanese.

Here, the speaker isn't just stating a fact; they're conveying that the difficulty is notable or surprising to them.

§ Comparing with Other Demonstratives

It's helpful to compare こんな with its siblings in the 'ko-so-a-do' series:

• こんな (konna): This kind of; such (close to the speaker)

• そんな (sonna): That kind of; such (close to the listener or known to both)

• あんな (anna): That kind of; such (far from both speaker and listener)

• どんな (donna): What kind of? (question word)

Understanding these distinctions will help you choose the right word depending on the distance or knowledge of the thing you're describing.

§ Common Phrases with こんな

こんな appears in many common Japanese phrases. Learning these can quickly boost your conversational ability.

• こんなこと: This kind of thing; such a thing.

• こんな感じで: Like this; in this kind of way.

• こんな時: At a time like this.

Hint

Please don't do such a thing again.

Keep an ear out for these phrases as you consume Japanese media or talk with native speakers. You'll find こんな to be a very common and natural part of everyday Japanese conversation.

Let's dive into how you'll actually hear and use the word こんな (konna) in everyday Japanese. This word is super common, and understanding its nuances will really help you sound more natural.

§ What こんな means

Japanese Word

こんな

Pronunciation

konna

CEFR Level

A2

Definition

This kind of; such. Used to describe something close to the speaker, or something previously mentioned/understood by the speaker and listener.

§ In the Workplace

In a professional setting, you'll often hear こんな when someone is referring to a specific type of problem, solution, or situation that's currently being discussed or is immediately apparent.

• When presenting a proposal:

  こんな企画書でよろしいでしょうか。
  Is this kind of proposal acceptable?

• Discussing a task:

  こんなやり方で進めても大丈夫ですか。
  Is it okay to proceed with this kind of method?

• Referring to a difficult situation:

  こんな状況では、決断が難しいです。
  In such a situation, making a decision is difficult.

§ At School or University

Students and teachers use こんな frequently to talk about assignments, rules, or even personal feelings about their studies.

• When a student is confused by homework:

  こんな難しい問題、解けません。
  I can't solve such a difficult problem.

• A teacher explaining an example:

  こんな感じでレポートを書いてください。
  Please write your report in this kind of way.

• Complaining about a rule:

  こんな厳しい校則は納得できません。
  I can't agree with such strict school rules.

§ In the News or Media

News anchors, reporters, and interviewees use こんな to refer to events, trends, or conditions currently unfolding or being reported on. It helps to contextualize the information for the audience.

• Reporting on a disaster:

  こんな大きな地震は初めてです。
  Such a big earthquake is the first time.

• Discussing a social trend:

  こんな新しいサービスが注目されています。
  Such a new service is attracting attention.

• An expert giving an opinion:

  こんな経済状況では、消費が伸び悩むでしょう。
  In such an economic situation, consumption will likely stagnate.

By paying attention to how native speakers use こんな in these contexts, you'll quickly get a feel for its natural usage. It's one of those small words that makes a big difference in how fluent you sound.

Let's look at こんな (konna), a useful Japanese determiner that means "this kind of" or "such." It's pretty straightforward, but knowing when to use it versus similar words can make a big difference in how natural your Japanese sounds.

§ What こんな (konna) means

Japanese Word

こんな (konna)

Type

Determiner

CEFR Level

A2

Definition

This kind of; such.

Basically, こんな (konna) describes a noun by indicating its type or quality, usually implying that the speaker is close to or experiencing what they are describing. Think of it as saying, "a thing like this one here."

§ How to use こんな (konna)

こんな (konna) always comes directly before a noun. It can't stand alone.

You'll also often hear it with particles like の (no) or に (ni) to modify verbs or adjectives, but its core function remains to refer to "this kind" or "such."

§ Similar words and when to use this one vs alternatives

Japanese has a set of demonstratives that often cause confusion. These are called the こ・そ・あ・ど (ko-so-a-do) series. For "this kind of," you'll encounter:

• こんな (konna): This kind of (near the speaker)
• そんな (sonna): That kind of (near the listener)
• あんな (anna): That kind of (far from both)
• どんな (donna): What kind of?

The key is distance and shared knowledge:

こんな (konna): Speaker's vicinity/knowledge

Use こんな (konna) when the type or example you're referring to is physically close to you (the speaker) or is something you're currently experiencing or thinking about. It implies a direct connection to the speaker's immediate context.

そんな (sonna): Listener's vicinity/shared knowledge

Use そんな (sonna) when referring to a type or example that is physically close to the listener, or something that the listener has just mentioned or is thinking about. It often reflects what's in the listener's immediate context or shared conversational topic.

あんな (anna): Far from both/general knowledge

Use あんな (anna) when the type or example is distant from both the speaker and the listener, or when you're referring to something widely known or previously discussed but not in the immediate physical or conversational space.

どんな (donna): Interrogative (what kind?)

This one is straightforward: use どんな (donna) to ask about the kind or type of something.

Mastering these distinctions will help you sound more precise and natural when describing things in Japanese. Remember to pay attention to where the item or concept is relative to the speaker and listener, and whether it's something newly introduced or already part of the conversation.