LEARN + JAPANESE / 31 of 186 JLPT N5
Anyone, Anytime, Anywhere でも
Your friend says they’ll eat anything and go anywhere. Attach でも to question words such as 誰 or どこ and the question opens to every possible answer: 誰でも, “anyone”; どこでも, “anywhere.”
Anything is fine.
These days you can take photos anywhere.
Hint · 힌트
This is the same でも that means “but” elsewhere, doing a completely different job here. Context tells them apart instantly: でも alone at the start of a sentence means “but,” でも glued onto a question word means “any-.” The two never get confused in practice despite looking identical.
This book is popular because even a child can buy it.
These days you can get to know anyone.
Hint · 힌트
でも also attaches directly to an ordinary noun to mean “even,” not just to question words. 子供でも (even a child) makes a claim stronger by naming the least likely case, if even a child can do it, anyone can. Other particles slot in before でも without any trouble: 誰とでも is “with anyone,” とdoing its usual job right underneath.
Vocabulary
| Japanese | English |
|---|---|
| popularity | |
| foreigner | |
| to get to know each other | |
| ordinary, normal | |
| famous | |
| business trip | |
| meeting | |
| to enjoy | |
| who | |
| where | |
| when | |
| what | |
| which (of two) | |
| fine, okay | |
| for the first time | |
| professional | |
| easy, simple | |
| convenient | |
| inconvenient | |
| freedom, freely |
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