なんぼ

Japanese
Alternative spelling
何ぼ

Etymology

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

Adverb

なんぼ • (nanbo) 

  1. [from 1518] (Kansai, Hokkaidō, Tōhoku) how much; how many (quantity or cost)
    Synonyms: いくら, いくつ
    そっちは何(なん)ぼ？
    Sotchi wa nanbo?
    How much is that one?
    なんぼあっても良(い)い
    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
    長(ちょう)女(じょ)は今(いま)何(なん)ぼ？
    Chōjo wa ima nanbo?
    How old is your oldest daughter now?

Noun

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)
    傷(きず)ついてなんぼだよ
    kizu tsuite nanbo dayo
    No pain, no gain.

References
  1. “なんぼ”, in デジタル大辞泉 (Dejitaru Daijisen)‎ (in Japanese), Tōkyō: Shogakukan, updated roughly every four months
  2. 2006, 大辞林 (Daijirin), Third Edition (in Japanese), Tōkyō: Sanseidō, →ISBN
  3. “なんぼ”, in 日本国語大辞典 (Nihon Kokugo Daijiten, “Nihon Kokugo Daijiten”)‎ (in Japanese), 2nd edition, Tōkyō: Shogakukan, 2000, →ISBN
  4. 1997, 新明解国語辞典 (Shin Meikai Kokugo Jiten), Fifth Edition (in Japanese), Tōkyō: Sanseidō, →ISBN
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