how...! (exclamation)

ことか expresses strong emotion in an exclamation, often with どんなに, なんと, or どれほど. Attach it to a plain-form verb/adjective or a na-adjective with な. It conveys deeply felt feeling about a degree.

Examples

• あなたに会あえて、どんなにうれしいことか。

  Anata ni aete, donna ni ureshii koto ka.

  How happy I am to be able to meet you!

• この日ひをどれほど待まったことか。

  Kono hi o dorehodo matta koto ka.

  How long I've waited for this day!

Vocabulary in these examples

• あなた you
• どんな what kind of
• この this (+ noun)
• 日 sun, day
• どれ which one
• 待つ to wait

Related patterns · Emphasis and listing

• 〜こそ precisely; the very (emphasis)
• 〜さえ even
• 〜やら〜やら what with... and...
• 〜にしろ〜にしろ whether... or...