こんな

こんな is a pre-noun demonstrative meaning 'this kind of' or 'like this.' It always modifies a noun and cannot stand alone as a pronoun.

Related words

• そんな: like that (near listener)
• あんな: like that (far from both)
• どんな: what kind of (question)

Common patterns

• こんな + noun: こんな本(ほん) (a book like this)
• こんなに + adjective/verb: こんなに難(むずか)しい (this difficult)
• こんなふうに: in this way, like this

Usage

Can express surprise or emotion: こんな所(ところ)で会(あ)うとは (meeting in a place like this — unexpected). Also used for both positive and negative emphasis: こんなにおいしい (this delicious), こんなに大変(たいへん) (this difficult).