other N1 uncommon writtenliterary
いかなる — any / whatever / what kind of ~
いかなる
Meaning
- any ~ whatsoever / whatever ~ / what kind of ~ — the formal, written equivalent of どんな, modifying a noun
いかなる is a stiff, literary adnominal — the written counterpart of どんな. With 〜も / 〜でも / 〜であろうと it means 'any ~ whatsoever, without exception': いかなる理由があっても、暴力は許されない ('whatever the reason, violence is not permitted'). It can also be a formal 'what kind of ~' in a question. It always sits directly before a noun.
Key sentence
いかなる困難にも、決して屈しない。
I will never yield to any hardship whatsoever.
Formation
| Attaches to | Form | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Directly before a noun (often + も / でも / であろうと) | いかなる + N（＋も） | いかなる場合も / いかなる手段でも |
When: Formal/written — declarations, rules, dramatic statements. The 〜も frame asserts 'no exception'.
Examples
いかなる事情があろうとも、締切は延長できません。
Whatever the circumstances, the deadline cannot be extended.
当社は、いかなる差別も認めない。
Our company tolerates no discrimination of any kind.
Easily confused with
どんな Same meaning, different register: どんな is the everyday 'what kind of / any'; いかなる is its formal, written-literary counterpart, at home in rules and solemn declarations. どんなに〜ても どんなに〜ても is concessive 'no matter how (much) ~' before a verb/adjective; いかなる〜も is adnominal 'any ~ whatsoever' before a noun. Both assert 'no exception', but attach to different things.
Notes
- いかなる modifies a noun only — for 'however much ~' on a verb or adjective, use いかに〜ても / どんなに〜ても.
See いかなる in real sentences
Jengo shows いかなる the way you actually meet it: inside real Japanese sentences, so it sticks instead of staying an abstract rule.
Study it in JengoSources Compiled with reference to A Dictionary of Advanced Japanese Grammar.