こんな・そんな・あんな・どんなThis, that, or what kind of

こんな・そんな・あんな describe a noun as being of this or that kind, while どんな asks what kind of qualities or characteristics it has.

Choosing the form

こんな often points to a quality, shape, degree, or situation that the speaker is showing or experiencing directly. そんな can pick up something associated with the listener or something just said. あんな places the kind at a distance, often as something both people remember. These are useful tendencies, not rigid rules based only on physical distance.

What kind of noun?

Each form goes directly before the noun whose kind or characteristics are being described.

こんな形かたちの机つくえを探さがしています。

I am looking for a desk with this kind of shape.

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そんな話はなしは初はじめて聞ききました。

That is the first time I have heard a story like that.

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Here the speaker is responding to the kind of story that has just been mentioned.

あんな静しずかな町まちで暮くらしたいです。

I would like to live in a quiet town like that.

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どんな音おん楽がくをよく聞ききますか。

What kind of music do you often listen to?

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Emotion comes from context

These forms can express surprise, admiration, annoyance, or rejection when the situation and tone support that feeling. However, they can also be completely neutral descriptions, so translations such as “a thing like that!” are not automatic.

Asking what kind or asking which one

どんな asks for a description such as genre, style, size, or personality. By contrast, どの asks the listener to choose or identify one particular member of a known set.

どんな本ほんが好すきですか。

What kind of books do you like?

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An expected answer describes a type, such as mysteries or historical novels.

この三さん冊さつの中なかで、どの本ほんが好すきですか。

Which book do you like among these three?

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An expected answer identifies one of the three books.