ことか to place strong emphasis on something?

Question

According to this website (http://www.jlptsensei.com/grammar-lesson/kotoka/) "ことか is used to place strong emphasis on something." This is the only explanation I could find. I was wondering if that is a common expression and in what context would you use it? Thank you.

Answer 1

The ことか is used in an exclamatory sentence (感嘆文) , usually preceded by an interrogative word such as どんなに, どれほど, なんと, 何度 etc.

Examples:

• どんなにうれしいことか！ (≂ どんなにうれしいだろう！)
  How happy I would be!
• なんと美しいことか！ (≂ なんと美しいのだろう！ / なんて美しいんだろう！)
  How beautiful it is!
• 何度失敗したことか！ (≂ 何度失敗しただろう！)
  (I have no idea) How many times I have failed!

(「～～ことか！」 sounds a bit more literary than 「～～だろう！」)

Answer 2

1. なんということか！
   What the hell (is this) !
2. ずっと一緒だった仲間が別れなければならないのは、なんと残念なことか。
   Having to say farewell to friends that were always with you is so sad.
   (Source)

3. コンピューターは、なんと便利なことか。
   Computer is such a convenient thing.
   (Source)

As I know. ことか is a 2kyuu grammar. It is used to express your feeling about....