～ことか
Emphasize how strongly something is felt
You’ll be able to make an exclamatory statement about a large degree, repeated experience, or strong emotion.
山頂に着いたとき、どんなに嬉しかったことか。
sanchou ni tsuita toki, donna ni ureshikatta koto ka.
What do you think this sentence means?
How happy we were when we finally reached the mountain summit!
Express an intense emotion or exclamation
～ことか pairs with question words like どんなに, どれほど, or 何度 to form an emotional exclamation emphasizing a deep degree or frequency ("how very...", "what an incredible amount...").
この日を何年待ったことか。
kono hi o nannen matta koto ka.
How many years I waited for this day!
あなたの手紙を何度読んだことか。
anata no tegami o nando yonda koto ka.
How many times I read your letter!
Combine degree question words with plain form + ことか
Begin with どんなに, どれほど, or 何度, and end the clause with a plain verb or adjective followed by ことか (or ことだろう).
日本へ来てから、家族に会いたいと何度思ったことか。
nihon e kite kara, kazoku ni aitai to nando omotta koto ka.
How many times I thought about wanting to see my family since coming to Japan!
入院していたとき、友だちからのメッセージにどれほど励まされたことか。
nyuuin shite ita toki, tomodachi kara no messeeji ni dorehodo hagemasareta koto ka.
When I was in the hospital, I can’t tell you how much my friends’ messages encouraged me.
子どもが小さいころは、夜中に何度起こされたことか。
kodomo ga chiisai koro wa, yonaka ni nando okosareta koto ka.
When my kids were small, I can’t count how many times I was woken up in the night.
迷子になった息子が見つかったとき、どんなにほっとしたことか。
maigo ni natta musuko ga mitsukatta toki, donna ni hotto shita koto ka.
When my lost son was found, I can’t tell you how relieved I was.
7 more examples in the grammar path — free for a limited time.