What's the best way to use 'いつなんどき'?


The examples I've seen in different dictionaries seen to imply very specific
contexts the word is used in, many involving (verb)か分からない and かも知れない, but I
haven't seen anything concrete about proper usage. Anyone know?




いつなんどき or 何時｛いつ｝何時｛なんどき｝emphasizes that the when is unknown by repeating the
expression of the same meanings.

Since its purpose is to emphasize that the when is unknown, it can be used in
any context, whether negative or positive. (This point might be anecdotal) But
because it easily hints the state of negative, for **not** knowing when, it's
very common to find it in a negative context but it doesn't have to be. Some
examples.

いつなんどき...

  1. 死ぬかわからない
  2. 夢｛ゆめ｝が叶｛かな｝うかもしれない
  3. 敵｛てき｝が来てもいい頃｛ころ｝だ
  4. 起｛お｝きてもおかしくは無い
  5. でも彼｛かれ｝と結婚｛けっこん｝できる
  6. でも電話｛でんわ｝してください
  7. でも行けます
  8. 見つかっても安全｛あんぜん｝
  9. 来るはずの電車を待つ
  10. 誰の挑戦｛ちょうせん｝でも受ける

As seen above, there is no real rule on its use. The closest in English might
be whenever but it can also hint always, since you are just....not defining
exactly when. And many great writers and figures have used it in varieties of
contexts. #10 is an actual statement by the Japanese wrestling legend Antonio
Inoki.

The use of "the" with Japanese wrestling legend was intended. I am biased.

いつなんどき、どんな挑戦が来ても俺は勝つ




いつなんどき or 何時｛いつ｝何時｛なんどき｝emphasizes that the when is unknown by repeating the
expression of the same meanings.

Since its purpose is to emphasize that the when is unknown, it can be used in
any context, whether negative or positive. (This point might be anecdotal) But
because it easily hints the state of negative, for **not** knowing when, it's
very common to find it in a negative context but it doesn't have to be. Some
examples.

いつなんどき...

  1. 死ぬかわからない
  2. 夢｛ゆめ｝が叶｛かな｝うかもしれない
  3. 敵｛てき｝が来てもいい頃｛ころ｝だ
  4. 起｛お｝きてもおかしくは無い
  5. でも彼｛かれ｝と結婚｛けっこん｝できる
  6. でも電話｛でんわ｝してください
  7. でも行けます
  8. 見つかっても安全｛あんぜん｝
  9. 来るはずの電車を待つ
  10. 誰の挑戦｛ちょうせん｝でも受ける

As seen above, there is no real rule on its use. The closest in English might
be whenever but it can also hint always, since you are just....not defining
exactly when. And many great writers and figures have used it in varieties of
contexts. #10 is an actual statement by the Japanese wrestling legend Antonio
Inoki.

The use of "the" with Japanese wrestling legend was intended. I am biased.

いつなんどき、どんな挑戦が来ても俺は勝つ

