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."
Structure
[Question word] + でも | でも + [next sentence]
Examples
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
• 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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