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JLPT N4Particles

でも— Even / Any- (with question words)

Attached to a question word it creates universal expressions ("anything," "anyone," etc.). It is also used sentence-initially as a conjunction meaning "but/however."

Grammar path · 練習

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A short lesson: the pattern, its sentence anatomy, a quick quiz and a sentence to build.

Pro lessonUNIT 13 · PARTICLES

Structure · 形

[Question word] + でも | でも + [next sentence]

Examples · 例文

  • 何でも食べられます。

    Nandemo taberaremasu.

    I can eat anything.

    何 (what) + でも = anything

  • 誰でも参加できます。

    Dare demo sanka dekimasu.

    Anyone can participate.

    誰 (who) + でも = anyone

  • でも、それは少し難しいと思います。

    Demo, sore wa sukoshi muzukashii to omoimasu.

    But I think that's a little difficult.

    Sentence-initial でも = but/however

Usage notes · 注意

  • Key Concept: Question word + でも = universal/inclusive: 何でも (anything), 誰でも (anyone), どこでも (anywhere), いつでも (anytime), どれでも (whichever).
  • Compare: 何も〜ない (nothing, negative);
  • Note: 何でも (anything, positive).
  • Summary: でも as a conjunction = casual "but" (less formal than しかし, けれども).

Commonly confused with

The JLPT rarely asks whether you recognise a pattern — it asks which of several similar patterns fits. These are the ones でも is tested against.

vsでも as 'even' (お茶でも飲みませんか)

Beyond question words, でも after a plain noun softens a suggestion, meaning 'or something / even': お茶でも飲もう = 'let's have tea or something.' This is a different use from the universal 何でも pattern.

vsしかし / けれど (but)

As a conjunction, でも is the casual/spoken 'but.' しかし is formal/written and けれど(も) is neutral-polite. All three contrast with the previous statement.

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