なんぼ

な

ん

ぼ

Freq.FrequencyTop 20,000

Meanings

1

how much; how many; how; to what extent

usually written using kana alone

Kansai dialect equivalent of いくら. Used to ask about quantity, price, or degree. Common in casual speech.

See also: いくら

これ、なんぼですか？
How much is this?
なんぼ探さがしても見みつからへん。
No matter how much I search, I can't find it.

2

however (much); no matter how

usually written using kana alone

Used in the pattern なんぼ...〜ても/でも to mean 'no matter how much'. Often heard in Kansai dialect but understood nationwide.

See also: いくら

なんぼ食たべても太ふとらへん。
No matter how much I eat, I don't gain weight.
なんぼ謝あやまっても許ゆるしてくれへんかった。
No matter how much I apologized, he wouldn't forgive me.

3

what matters is ...; it all comes down to ...; nothing beats ...

usually written using kana alone

Used in the pattern 〜てなんぼ to express that something is essential or the most important thing. Often implies that without it, something is worthless.

商しょう売ばいは信しん用ようがあってなんぼや。
In business, trust is everything.
料りょう理りは味あじが良よくてなんぼやろ。
When it comes to cooking, taste is what counts.

See all 11 example sentences ›

Usage patterns

〈物もの〉はなんぼhow much is ~ (price)
このりんごはなんぼですか。
How much is this apple?
なんぼ〈形けい容よう詞し〉でもno matter how ~ (it may be)
なんぼ高たかくても、それは買かうわ。
No matter how expensive it is, I'll buy it.
〈動どう詞し〉てなんぼit's all about ~; ~ is what really counts
芸げい人にんは笑わらわせてなんぼやろ。
For a comedian, making people laugh is what really matters.