particle N4 common casualpolitewritten
も — particle も: even ~
も
Meaning
- even ~ — presents the noun or amount as an extreme or surprising case, implying the rest follow
Key sentence
彼は自分の名前も書けない。
He can't even write his own name.
Formation
| Attaches to | Form | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Noun (or number/amount) + も | N も / 数量 + も | 一度も (not even once) |
Examples
財布には一円も残っていない。
There isn't even one yen left in my wallet.
彼は挨拶もしないで帰った。
He left without even saying goodbye.
そんな話は一度も聞いたことがない。
I've never heard that even once.
When you can't use it
- With a number + も + a negative, it means 'not even' (一人も来なかった = 'not even one person came'). With a number + も + an affirmative, it emphasizes a large amount 'as many/much as' (百人も来た = 'as many as a hundred people came').
Easily confused with
さえ Both mark an extreme example, but さえ is stronger and often sets up 'if even X (then surely…)' (子供でさえ分かる). も is the plainer 'even,' without that conditional push. も (also) Same particle, different force: additive も = 'also / too' (私も = 'me too'), while this も = 'even,' singling out an extreme (名前も書けない = 'can't even write his name'). Context tells them apart.
See も in real sentences
Jengo shows も the way you actually meet it: inside real Japanese sentences, so it sticks instead of staying an abstract rule.
Study it in JengoSources Compiled with reference to A Dictionary of Basic Japanese Grammar.