Meaning and Usage
"そんな" is a demonstrative adjective used to refer to something near the listener or something previously mentioned, often translated as "such," "like that," or "that sort of." It can describe things, situations, or feelings.
Common Contexts
It is frequently used to express disbelief or denial (e.g., "そんなことはありません" meaning "That's not true."). It also appears in expressions of degree with "そんなに" meaning "that much" or "so much."
Collocations and Patterns
- そんなこと: "such a thing" — often used to deny or reject something.
- そんなに + verb/adjective: "that much" — to indicate degree or extent.
- そんな話: "such a story" — to refer to a previously mentioned or surprising story.
Register and Nuance
"そんな" is casual to neutral in tone and common in everyday conversation. It can convey surprise, denial, or emphasis depending on context.
Common Mistakes
Learners sometimes confuse "そんな" with "あんな" or "こんな," which refer to things near the speaker or far from both speaker and listener, respectively. Remember, "そんな" usually points to something near the listener or something just mentioned.