Grammar - Beginner - Part 3
ikura ...temo/demo いくら ...ても/でも
Phrase meaning: no matter how (much/hard), at the ...est, even...

1. Used with the stem of te-form of verb

いくら頑張ってもよくならない。
Ikura ganbattemo yoku naranai.
No matter how hard I try, it doesn't go well.

2. Used with ku-form of adjective

いくら遅くても五時までに着きたい。
Ikura osokutemo go ji made ni tsukitai.
I want to arrive there by five at the latest.

3. Used with noun

いくら天才でもその問題は解けない。
Ikura tensai demo sono mondai wa tokenai.
Even a genius cannot solve that problem.

-> See also: demo, temo