Hi everyone! Can anybody understand what this kitten is talking about?
Ex. 彼も同じことを言っていた。
= Kare mo onaji koto wo itte ita.
= He was also saying the same thing.
Ex. コーヒーも下さい。
= Koohii mo kudasai.
= May I have coffee, too?
Ex. 明日も会える？
= Ashita mo aeru?
= Can I see you again tomorrow?
But today we will study the function of emphasizing what comes before that both in a positive and negative sentence. Let’s compare the following sentences.
↓
A and B are talking about a book.
= I haven’t finished reading even the half (of the book).
B : え？もう半分も読んだの？
= Eh? Mou hanbun mo yondano?
=What? You have already read the half?
They both emphasize “the half of the book” in a negative way and positive way. A lot of time we use も with a number, amount, quantity, and its counter unit.
We are going to focus on this usage today.
First, please note that sometimes it is hard to translate も in English.
We emphasize the amount or quantity that comes before that and it shows one’s feelings that something is a lot/long/too much/too many /too long.
When you get 10,000 yen from someone, you say,
Ex. 3)１万円、もらった。(neutral)
= Ichiman en moratta.
= I got 10,000 yen
But if you feel 10,000 yen is a lot of money, you say,
Ex. 4) 一万円ももらった。 !JYANE!
= Ichimanen mo moratta
=I got 10,000 yen. (Yay! )
The listener can tell you think 10,000 is a lot and you are probably happy.
If something costs you 10,000 yen, you say
Ex. 5) 一万円かかった。
= Ichimanen kakatta.
= It cost 10,000 yen
This sentence is very neutral and there is no emotion attached. But if you think that was too expensive, you say
Ex. 6) 一万円もかかった !ase!
= Ichiman en mo kakatta.
= That cost me 10,000 yen. (How expensive!)
And we can tell it is too expensive for you.
Other examples of も to emphasize the amount or quantity.
Ex. もう２時間も待った。
= Mou nijikan mo matta.
= I’ve been already waiting for “two hours”.
Ex. このお菓子美味しかったから５個も食べちゃった。
= Kono okashi oishikattakara goko mo tabechatta.
= These sweets were so good that I ate “five” of them.
Ex. もう卒業してから一年も経ったの？時が経つのは早いね。
= Mou sotsugyou shite kara ichinen mo tatta no? Toki ga tatsu no wa hayaine.
= It has already passed one year since we graduated. Time flies, huh?
Ex. テキーラを３杯も飲んだら二日酔いになるよ。
= Tekiira wo sanbai mo nonda kara futukayoi ni naruyo.
= If you have three shots of tequila, you will get a hangover.
⭐️ In negative sentences :
Ex. この車に６人も乗れないよ。
= Kono kuruma ni rokunin no norenai yo.
= This car won’t hold “six people”.
Ex. もう彼女に三日も会っていない。
= Mou kanojo ni mikka mo atte inai.
= I haven’t seen her (or my girlfriend) for “three days”.
Ex. 一晩で２冊も読めない。
= Hitoban de nisatsu mo yomenai.
= I can’t read two books in one night.
🔸 一+ counter unit + も + negative sentence
It means “not even one ~”/ “not to do ~ at all” / “without doing something at all”
and も has a function of emphasizing the word which comes before も, “not even”
🐶 From the picture above :
「猫語は一言も話せません。」
= Nekogo wa hitokoto mo hanasemasen.
= I can’t speak a word of Cat language.
一言= hitokoto = one word + も
not even one word
I will show you other examples.
★一滴 = いってき = itteki = one drop
+ も = not even one drop
Ex. お酒は一滴も飲めません。
( can’t even drink a drop of alcohol)
= Osake wa itteki mo nomemasen.
= I can’t drink alcohol at all.
Ex. 今月は雨が一滴も降らない。
(without a drop of rain)
= Kongetsu wa ame ga itteki mo furanai.
= It doesn’t rain at all this month.
★一曲= いっきょく= ikkyoku = one song
+ も
not even one song
Ex. 知っている曲が一曲もない。
= Shitte irukyoku ga ikkyoku mo nai.
= I don’t even know one song. (I don’t know any songs.)
★一人 = ひとり= hitori = one person
+ も
nobody
Ex.私の町には日本人は一人もいない。
= Watashi no machi ni wa nihonjin ga hitori mo inai.
= There is no Japanese in our town.
★一口 = ひとくち = hitokuchi = one bite
+ も
= not even one bite
Ex. お腹が一杯で一口も食べられない。
= Onaka ga ippai de hitokuchi mo taberarenai.
= I am full and can’t eat another bite.
★一言 = ひとこと = hitokoto = one word
+ も
= not even one word
Ex. 昨日から彼と一言も話していない。
= Kinou kara kare to hitokoto mo hanashite inai.
= I haven’t talked to him at all since yesterday.
Ex. 一言もしゃべらないで下さい。
= Hitokoto mo shaberanai de kudasai.
= Please don’t say a word.
★一歩 = いっぽ = ippo = one step
+ も
not even one step
Ex. 昨日は一歩も家から出なかった。
= Kinou wa ippo mo ie kara denakatta.
= I didn’t go out at all yesterday.
★一問 = いちもん= ichiomon = one question
+ も
not even one question
Ex.一問も答えない。
= Ichimon mo kotaenai
= not answer even one question
★一台 = いちだい = ichidai = one machine, vehicle
+ も
:rrrr: Not even one car, motorcycle, machine, etc.
Ex. 駐車場に車が一台もない。
= Chuushajou ni kurumaga iichidai mo nai.
= There are no cars in the parking lot.
★一睡 = いっすい = issui = one “sleep”
+ も
not even one “sleep” = a wink
Ex. 昨夜は一睡もしていない。
= Sakuya wa issui mo shiteinai.
= I didn’t sleep at all last night. / I didn’t sleep a wink last night.
★一銭 = いっせん = issen = one cent
+ も
not even a dime
Ex.一銭もお金を使わない。
= Issen mo okane wo tsukawanai.
= not to spend a penny.
***
You also use も ( = mo) after interrogative pronouns such as
*何 ( = nani) any, no ~ (anything, nothing)
*誰 ( = dare) anybody, nobody
*どれ ( = dore) any, no ~
*どこ ( = doko) anywhere/ nowhere
to emphasize.
Ex. 誰も私の気持ちをわかってくれない。
= Daremo watashi no kimochi wo wakatte kurenai.
= Nobody understands how I feel.
Ex.忙しくて宿題を何もしていない。
= Isogashikute shukudai wo nani mo shite inai.
= I have been so busy that I haven’t done any homework yet.
Ex. 東京の彼から何の連絡もない。
= Toukyou no kare kara nan no rennraku mo nai.
= I haven’t heard from him in Tokyo at all.
Ex. お盆はどこのホテルもいっぱいだ。
= Obon wa doko no hoteru mo ippai da.
=Every hotel is booked out during obon holidays.
Or
お盆はどこもいっぱいだ。
= Obon wa doko mo ippai da.
= All the places are full during obon holidays.
＊＊＊＊＊＊
マギー先生より= MaggieSensei yori = From Maggie Sensei
残念ながら!? 猫の友達は一匹もいません。
= Zannen nagara!? neko no tomodachi wa ippiki mo imasen.
= Unfortunately!? I don’t have any cat friends.
Can you think of other examples?
***
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I appreciate your support! サポートありがとう！
122 Comments
Hi, Maggie sensei, hope everything is going well. In an essay, I’ve accross this sentence, 夢を求めて狂っても。Could you please explain me why も has been used in the
end of this sentence???
Hi Mojo 元気？
夢を求めて狂っても
〜ても means “even if/even though/although”
You don’t usually leave the sentence with ても unless there is a sentence before that sentence or omitted the following part on purpose when it is obvious.
For example 夢を求めて狂っても（それでも夢を求める）
Even if I go mad seeking for the dream, I still go for it.
thus you can show your strong will emphasizing what comes before ても
Hello Maggie, this one gives me headaches for a long time. The meaning of the sentence is clear to me, but what effect has も here?
あれは用もないのに押しちゃだめなのよ
I am really looking forward to your answer. I appreciate your work very much and I have learned a lot from you.
Thank you in advance
こんにちはアンドレアス
〜もないのに is a very common patter なんの理由もないのに / 証拠もないのに
You can also say がないのに ,”there is no ~ “, but when you add the nuance of “not to even” or “any”, you use も
用がない not to have particular reasons
用もない not have any particular reasons
Hi Maggie. Thank’s a lot! I will remember this as a patern. You really helped me out. You are great!! :D
My pleasure! :)
In English we use a change of voice (more emphatic, raised tone) to show the emphasis of a word in a sentence. I’ve found it difficult listening to Japanese without that mode of expression. Reading your article and talking to my my English speaking Japanese friend I have come to think thatモ may accomplish the same function as raising the tone in English. A simple sentence like “I want to drink tea” can have the four possible accents. I or WANT or DRINK or TEA . In Japanese, if I understand correctly, you could accomplish the same communication using 私もorスープもor たべたいも。is that correct? If it is I think it may really help improve my listening skills.
It is a little different but you do raise tone when you want to emphasize in Japanese as well.
But you are right. You cam emphasize with も as I explained in this lesson
number + counter も emphasizes the number
私も Me too/ I also
スープも soup also
X You can’t say たべたいも
I’m curious about something from the anime title この醜くも美しい世界
More specifically, the くも. Is this the same as くても with the て being dropped, or is this just も after the adverbial form of 醜い. Has this been covered before?
Hello Will
You are right くも is from くても (though ~ /even if)
It is a literal expression
You can also say
醜くもあり美しい世界
Hey, Maggie. Thanks for doing these, your posts are always my go to when I don’t understand something. In this case I was checking if there was some hidden meaning of も that was confusing me, but turns out the dialogue I was reading was just poorly written!
Anyways, as for using も to emphasize a quality, I think there is a pretty good English translation using “whole”.
E.g.
１年で１０kgも太った。
I gained a whole 10 kg in one year.
もう２時間も待った。
I’ve already waited 2 whole hours.
もう彼女に三日も会っていない。
I haven’t seen her (or my girlfriend) for three whole days.
I think this one is often overlooked because も is so strongly associated in people’s minds with also/too/even. It’s often a good way to translate the emphasized amount, so just wanted to share!
Thank you Evan
That’s a great way to translate the nuance of も
I will add that information.
Hi Maggie Sensei, I’ve been reading up on the も particle recently and I saw something interesting. It said that (for example) the sentence
小林さんも水を飲みました。
is in reality
小林さんは小林さんも水を飲みました。
In other words, the topic-marking は isn’t replaced by も, it is actually still there but it’s unnatural to say it. What are your thoughts on this and are there any articles written in Japanese about this?
Thank you so much for your time.
-アル
Hello アル
I have never seen any articles written in Japanese about that.
も is also used as a topic marker
AはBです。 A = B: A is B
CもBです。 C = B: C is also B
So it will be more simple not to interprete “As for C, C is also B”
Ok! Thank you for your reply. It is very helpful, as always!
No problem! :)
Ahhh. Is there a way to edit or delete this? I didn’t mean to make it all cluttered. Maybe you need two returns.
Like this?
Sorry. You can not edit or delete your comment. But if you want I can delete it. Do you want me to edit or delete your previous and this comment?
Hello Maggie, thank you for this nice explanation. I found a usage of the particle も that I can not seem to find anywhere in grammar explanations. Could you be so kind as to enlighten me?
(From the book キラキラ共和国 – 小川糸)
ミツローさんもミツローさんで、揺れているのかもしれない。
Where ミツローさん is a character in the book.
Thanks a lot!
Hi ZeThomas,
Ah OK,
You sometimes repeat the same subject twice to emphasize the contrast.
YはYで
The translation changes depending on the context but sometimes you translate it, “in one’s own way”
Hi, I have a question.
What is the difference between ことが多い、ことは多い、and ことも多い?
They probably have different nuances, but I can’t seem to get them properly.
Thank you in advence!
Hi タム
For example when you describe
Ex. 父は、遅く帰ることが多い。
= ちちは、おそくかえることがおおい。
= My dad often comes back home late.
(Regular statement: As for my dad, he often comes back home late.: Focusing on the fact that he comes back home late.)
Ex. 父は、遅く帰ることは多いが、いつも遊んでくれる。
= ちちは、おそくかえることはおおいが、いつもあそんでくれる。
= My dad often comes back home late but he always play with us/me.
You use は to show the contrast. So you bring up the fact that he comes back home late and then bring up other fact to show the contrast.
Ex. 父は、最近遊んでくれないし、遅く帰ることも多い。
= ちちは、さいきんあそんでくれないし、おそくかえることもおおい。
= My dad doesn’t play with us/me lately and (on top of that) he often comes back home late.
This も has a function of adding more information. “also” / ” on top of ~”
Sensei, in phrase examples I saw in websites like linguee, I sometimes see も used to say “X and Y” in combination with とin this form: “X と Y も…”
But then there’s also examples that looks like this: “XもYも…” What’s the difference between the two?
Hi Renoir
The English translation can be the same but
X も Y も X and also Y (Bringing up two things X and Y)
X と Y も You see X and Y as one group, Also
犬と猫を飼っています。= I have a dog and a cat.
犬も猫も好きです。= I like both dogs and cats.
犬と猫も好きです is not natural)
Thank you sensei! Such minor difference has different meaning~~
I know. Good question, though. 😉
hi sensei
what is this も doing here? for context it’s a girl talking with her bf
seeing も and に together is kinda confusing
……我慢しなくていいです
人を好きになるとよくばりになるって
今はわたしにもわかるから
thank u in advance
Hi megumi
That にも is “even I” but にも means “I also / I ~ as well”
Let me break it down.
The particle に here is for ability, what one is able to do.
まだ私に読める漢字は少ない。
There are still a very few kanji that I can read.
読める is a potential form of 読む
You
この漢字は私には、読めない。
I can’t read this kanji. (by using は, you show the contrast. Maybe other people can but I can’t)
この漢字は私にも読める。(Even I can read this kanji)
Hi sensei,
thank you, so in this sentence it would be “Even I can understand that (…)” ?
:p
Sorry. I didn’t write the translation.
“also” is better for your sentence. “I can also understand.”
Hi Maggie,
I see in the lesson that も can indicate that something is too long, too expensive, too much, etc.
Does that mean it can also be used to indicate that something is too short, too small, too brief…?
I have a sentence:
だがホッとしたのも束の間,….
I think it means “But the relief was (too) brief”.
Is that right or am I getting confused?
Many thanks!
Hello Peter,
も has various function
1) also, and Ex. 私も行きます。 Ex. 父も母も出かけています。
2) emphasis which I explained in this lesson
ホッとしたのも束の間/喜んだのも束の間
ホットしたけれどもそれは短い間のことだった。
(the literal translation) I was relieved but that was a very short period of time. (It didn’t last long.)
も can be used in the meaning of 3) but, however, even though~
Ex. がんばって勉強するも試験に落ちた。 ( = がんばって勉強したけれども試験に落ちた）
Though I studied hard, I failed the exam.
Thanky you :)
You’re welcome! 💕
Can も also be used at the end of a sentence?
Example: お父さんとお母さんが好きです。黄色も。
Or would it need a verb to end the sentence?
Hi Chryssa
That も means “also”
Yes, you sometimes leave the sentence unfinished with も
Ex. これください。あっ、それも。 Please give me this one. Oh, that one,to.
Ex. A: 「田中君のことが好き」 I like Tanaka-kun
B: 「私も！」
As for your example sentence
Example: お父さんとお母さんが好きです。黄色も
I like Dad and Mom. And yellow, too.
Just context-wise unnatural but
お母さんが好き。お父さんも！ is possible IN CONVERSATION.
Hi, I find your web really helpful, thanks.
After reading this article I wonder, in 別の本も見せてください, is the particle mo used for emphasis?
Thanks!
Hello acr,
That も means “also”
Can I “also” see another book please?
Hi maggie sensei,
There is this book that I am currently reading. One part of the sentence goes like this :
“愚痴を吐くも、その言葉に覇気はない.”
what does the も in 吐くも means? “also”?
Hi
verb dictionary + も = even if/though ~
愚痴を吐いても→(more literal) 愚痴を吐くも
I am a bit confused with 誰も私の気持ちをわかってくれない。Shouldn’t it be 誰も私の気持ちがわかってくれない? I thought 分かる takes が…
Because it has くれる
You use が with わかる・わからない
彼は、私の気持ちがわかる
彼は、私の気持ちがわからない。
You use を with わかってくれる・わかってくれない
(It will be unnatural to use が）
彼は、私の気持ちをわかってくれる。
彼は、私の気持ちをわかってくれない。
誰も、私の気持ちをわかってくれない。
Hi sensei
What does も mean in this sentence?
先輩に見られるのも先輩を見るのも
Does it mean also or not even? I’m not sure if it means senpai and anon seeing each other or not seeing each other
Hi Romi,
It’s unfinished sentence.
も means “both””also” in an affirmative sentence and “neither” in a negative sentence (or the following verb has a negative meaning such as いやだ=I don’t like, I mind).
Let’s put one possible word after the sentence,
先輩に見られるのも先輩を見るのも（辛い= つらい = hard）
Both being seen by senpai and looking at senpai is hard.
Sorry maggie but i have 1 more question.
Nekogo wa hitokoto mo hanasemasen
Why wa and an not de?
＠Rodney
Oh sorry. I didn’t pay attention to your sentence, ６語も because I thought you were making a joke.
一言も話せない is an idiomatic expression
I can’t speak even one word = I can’t speak at all (idiom)
日本語は= as for Japanese (topic marker)
So the literal meaning is “as for Japanese, I can’t speak at all.”
I know prob 500 Japanese words n i know all the main particles but i still have problems with は an が
i can do small talk lol……
日本語で話せません。
日本語は話せません。
both are correct?
Both are correct, however: 日本語は話せません is more natural and it implies contrast, so you can translate this like: “(as for Japanese) I don’t speak Japanese… (however I speak for example English very well)”. That’s the aspect of contrast which part. は implies here.
Don’t worry, after 5 years of learning Japanese the problem, whether to choose は or が will disappear.
ヨロシク
助けてくれてありがとうございます！分かりやすいです。
ahh ok so itd be like
speaker A:日本語で話せる？
speaker B:いいえ、日本語は話せないんです。英語を使ってくれますか？
(sorry) for so many questions
@天人
Thank you for helping Rodney
＠Rodney
Here is the nuance difference.
日本語を話す to speak Japanese ( focusing on the language, Japanese.)
日本語で話す to communicate in Japanese. / to talk in Japanese
日本語で話せる？
Can we talk in Japanese?
日本語を話せる？
Can you speak Japanese?
speaker B: 英語を使ってくれますか？→ more natural ways to say that is…英語で話してくれますか？/ 英語でもいいですか？/ 英語でいいでsか？
いいえ、日本語は話せないんです。英語を使ってくれますか？ ＝＞ 「いいえ、日本語は話せないんです。でも英語でいいんです。」 sounds better.
Thank you very much maggie!
@Rodney
You’re welcome! boucingheart!
日本語で6語も話せないんだよ。そんな難しい文を分かるもんか！
most Japanese i know is by intuition lol from anime,Japanese tv shows,music,etc….,,
i dont even kno what もん really is lol sounds cheeky
とにかく、”も”の使い方は正しいんですか？
でも、助詞はとても下手です。（いつも助けてくれてありがとうございます！)
@Rodney
Hi Rodney,
Yes, the way you use も is good.
(Just one thing. そんな難しい文が(or なんて）わかるもんか is more natural.)
I realized i was supposed to used ga but before i learned ga i always put o wakaru,bad habit.
Ah,i forgot about nante>_< Thank you for your help! 感謝している。
@Rodney
You’re welcome! :)
Hi! ¿も can be “about”? like “sonna uwaza mo arukeredo…”There are rumors about it”
＠Kaede
Hi Kaede,
そんな噂（うわさ）もあるけれど = Sonna uwasa mo aru keredo
This も is not “about”. “also”
There is also a such a rumor.
Or simply emphasizing what comes before. uwasa
Hontou ni arigaotu!
@Kaede
Douitashimashite, kaede :)
Hello, Maggie sensei. What does も mean in the following sentence? It goes before a verb, doesn’t it? And after を. I’m a bit confused about its placement.
このオレはいずれ火影の名を受け継いで、先代のどの火影をも超えてやるんだ！
@SandaraKiss
Naruto??
火影を超える= to surpass 火影
→emphasizing the meaning
どの (or どんな) 火影をも超える= to surpass any 火影
Other example
問題を解く= to solve a problem
→emphasizing the meaning
どんな問題をも解いてやる
Hi Maggie sensei!
First, I would just like to give huge props for putting out such amazing content as you do and taking your free time to teach others, huge respect!
Regarding my question, as I’ve understood “も” can be used to to “emphasize” hence some meanings will translate to “even” in english.
For instance as in this lesson:
一問も答えない => not answer even one question
and my question here is, “でも” also has the nuance of “even” and can also be used in the same fashion to emphasize, right?
So how would this sentence differ from the one above: 一問でも答えない
In a case like this, which of “も” and “でも” has a deeper emphasize? or is the meaning even the same to begin with?
If I get to guess, “でも” sounds more negative in my ears, more like not answer EVEN ONE while “も” sounds more like not answer ONE, but I don’t know :3
Sorry for asking of so much without being able to give much back but I would really appreciate some more deeper comparison of “も” and “でも” when it comes to emphasizing. よろしく！〜 !DANCING! !beermug!
Though I am aware of some grammar points where only “も” is allowed to emphasize if I’ve understood things right, words like より(も) 幸いに(も) and so on..
Thanks again for your awesomeness, your lessons have really helped me throughout my studies! :D
Hi William
First you sent me a question twice (one of the questions went to SPAM mail folder for some reason) so I deleted the shorter one.
Thank you for your kind message!! That is very nice of you!
OK, let me answer your question.
一問も答えない
For this particular sentence, I would use も.
But for example, this difference is clear,
私もできない I can’t do that either.
私でもできない Even I can’t do that.
も = also / neigher
でも= (not) even
Let’s compare the following.
a) 子供も読める本
b) 子供でも読める本
they both can be translated as “a book that even children can read” but as you say b) emphasizes 子供 more.
Thank you so much for your fast response!!
I’m sorry for sending multiple comments, it’s just for some reason when I commented and hit the “post” comment button the site would just go blank for me so I never knew if my comments made it through or not :3
Anyways thank you again, I think I get the difference now !happyface! Have a good day! !DANCING!
@William
You’re very welcome, William.
Oh please don’t apologize. The comment filter doesn’t work properly sometime and one of your message went to a Spam folder for some reason. That happens a lot here.
Anyway, have a good day! :)
Hi Maggie sensei!
おじゃましたら、ごめん！
I’d like to ask you about お盆はどこのホテルもいっぱいだ。
May I also say: お盆はどのホテルもいっぱいだ。Using どの+Noun+も?
About instead 忙しくて宿題を何もしていない,
May I also say: 忙しくて何もの宿題をしていない
One last question (and please, forgive me for the trouble): may I say
このノートに色々な鉛筆何本かで書けます。 (I can write on this agenda with some different pencils)
Thanks a lot for your help and your effort put in this great work of yours!
＠Daniele
こんにちは、Daniel.
1) Yes, you can also say お盆はどのホテルもいっぱいだ。
2) No. You don’t say 忙しくて何もの宿題をしていない
3) You can say 何本かの違う鉛筆で書くことができます。
Hello Maggie,
Is it possible to use も、with ぐらい、くらい？
It took me around 5 years!! ５年ぐらいもかかったよ！
＠Ukkun
Hi Ukkun
Though it sounds a bit conversational, yes people do say that.
Can someone here explain the usage of も in this sentence:
春も、ゆうべの雨や風で、残りなく洗われてしまった
I know what the sentence means, I just don’t fully understand how も is used here.
It’s from the old novel Musashi, so it could be literary or outdated usage of it.
@Bingfa
That も is for emphasizing 春
So the last night rain and wind were strong and they even washed away “spring”
Hi sensei!
I would like to ask you about the function of も in the following sentence
“特に何の反応もない…”
For context, the person heard something loud coming from a locker, thinking that something is in there and shook it, then the sentence pops up)
What exactly does the も do in the sentence? I don’t think the function described in this lesson is the one, since there is no “number”
My translation is “nothing (no response) in particular”, but I think I completely ignored the も
I would also like to ask another function of も, which I read from another website (but can only recall a little bit of the information) that it “compares”
I think the も in Danny G’s question (topmost) has the same function, in that it compares everyone in the world (only a few goes to church on Sunday mornings and others don’t). Is this correct? If not, can you tell me if も even “compares”?
I would be really grateful if you can help me, and thank you for the great lesson :-P
@Nazaka
Hi Nazaka
Ah I should have added this usage, huh?
You use も in the following cases to emphasize.
There is NO ~~
→何も〜ない
→何の〜もない
NOBODY does ~ / There is NOBODY
→誰も〜ない
ANY ~ isn’t/doesn’t ~
→どの〜も〜ない
→どこの〜も〜ない
Any ~ is/does ~
→どの〜も〜
→どこの〜も〜
I just added the information in the lesson now.
As for your other question, I will get back to you later. I gotta go now. Sorry!
OK, I am back and read your question again but I don’t understand what you meant by も as comparison.
If you find an example sentence, please let me know.
Thanks for the reply sensei!
I completely get it now after reading your example and explanations!
ありがとうございます！
It’s alright, please take your time!
If I can ask, what does 日曜日の朝に教会に行く人もいる。 mean than? Specifically もいる. I hear it translated as “some” but I’m not sure if it relates to this lesson.
@Danny G
Hello Danny
日曜日の朝に教会に行く人もいる。
emphasize the part 日曜日の朝に教会に行く人
It means “also” or “even”
There are even people who go to church on Sunday morning.
or
There are also people who go to church on Sunday morning.
はっきり説明してくれてありがとうございました。
@Danny G
どういたしまして！ ❤
こにちわ マギーせんせい,
Can I use も in this way:
もいちねん (one more year)
ありがとうございます
ヴァルタ
@Valter
こんにちは、ヴァルタ！
one more year is もう一年。
もう and も are different.
Hi Maggie sensei!
Is “mo” always only used to emphasize the amount or can it also mean “more than” or “less than”? Or is it “motto” that is used for that?
Does “mo” always go with the word that precedes it or can it sometimes modify the word that follows it?
Do you also have a lesson on “mou”? Does “mou” always modify the word that follows it or can it also be placed after the word? How do I know whether to use “mo”, “mou” or “motto”?
@etoile38
Hello etoile,
Ah, OK…I think you are talking about the following cases.
Ex. このワインは千円もしません。
= This wine doesn’t cost (even) one thousand yen.
In you rephrase it, it is possible to say
*This wine costs less than 1,000 yen.
But the second translation doesn’t involve any feelings and it just tells the fact that the wine costs less than 1,000 yen.
*****
I can’t think of good examples right now but
も does emphasizes the word that precedes it but the preceded word with も modifies what comes after.
Ex. ５００人も集まった。
= Gohyakunin mo atsumatta.
も emphasizes “500 people” and modifies the following verb, 集まった(=atsumatta)
*****
も, もう, もっと are all different. もっと
I don’t have a lesson on もう(=mou) but will make one for you if I have a chance. (Right now I have a long list of request lessons.)
もう(=mou) = already, expressing the feelings that something is enough
もっと(=motto) =more
You can not replace も with もう・もっと in none of my example sentences.
Thank you, Maggie sensei! :grin:
@etoile37
You’re very welcome! :)
Thank you for this lesson Maggie-sensei!
Although I’m still getting confused
In this sentence, 満開の桜を一週間も見ることができない
is the speaker giving emphasis on 一週間 too?
@Myu
Hello Myu,
Yes, that も stresses 一週間 and the speaker feels one week is too long.
Hi! :D Thank you so much for your hard work! It’s great! Can I ask you something? In the following sentence:
世界のどんな言葉
探してもニュアンス違うだろう
what is the point of ”も”? Is it something like ”Whichever language in the world, I keep searching and the nuance seems not correct”.
@Ereki
Hello Ereki!
It’s from an AKB song, ハートエレキ, right?
This も means “even if”
But in this case, you can translate it something like…
Whatever word you found in the world must have difference nuance.
Awesome lesson, マギー先生!
I’m not sure about the function of で in this sentence: お腹が一杯で一口も食べられない。
Is this で short for なので (because)?
So the literal translate would be: “Because my stomach is full, I can’t eat another bite.” (Is this correct?)
@Marianne
Hi Marianne,
Great! I can see you’ve been studying hard!
お腹が一杯で一口も食べられない
で has many functions and one of them is to indicate a reason causally.
You can replace it with なので
お腹が一杯なので一口も食べられない。
= Because I am full I can’t eat another bite.
I would say で is lighter and なので indicates the reason stronger.
That’s why I translated it as “and”
(なので = because ~~ / 〜で = (reason) so../ and…/because )
お腹が一杯なので一口も食べられない
ああ、なるほど！That makes sense^^ ありがとう、先生！
Sorry, but I have another question: How is も used in this sentence?
愚痴なんて聞きたくもない.
I got it from the なんて lesson. I believe it’s just for emphasis, but I’m not entirely sure. Are there any patterns/rules for using this kind of も?
@Marianne
Yes, it is to emphasize.
OK, I will show you the pattern.
~なんてVたくない
→(stronger feeling.)
〜なんてVたくもない
Ex. 宿題なんてやりたくない。
= I don’t want to do my homework.
→stronger feeling.
Ex. 宿題なんてやりたくもない。
ありがとう、マギー先生！
マギー先生のサイトなんていつも使い止みたくもない^^
@Marianne
どういたしまして！（マギー先生のサイトなんていつも使い止みたくもない^^→??? you wanted to say you don’t even want to stop using my site?)
I basically tried to say, “I never want to stop using Maggie Sensei’s site!” with LOTS of emphasis. I guess it didn’t work out like I thought it would, eh? XD 拙い日本語ごめんなさい! >_<
good morning dear maggie sensei. i saw some explanations about the usage of kedo:
http://japanese.about.com/library/blqow1.htm
https://ph.answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20131211112552AAMMirR
but there are times i see/hear kedo/keredo + mo. is the “mo” in (kedo/keredo + mo) is the emphasizing “mo” or (kedo/keredo + mo) is just another variation of kedo/keredo?
thank you so much in advance dear maggie sensei.
@obakasan000
keredomo/kedomo/kedo
It is originally “けれども(=keredomo)”
けれども keredomo (formal)
→けれど keredo (less formal)
→ けどkado (more casual)
thank you so much dear maggie sensei. n_n.
@obakasan000
You’re welcome! :)
thank you so much dear maggie sensei. yes mam’ n_n. you may call me with that name. you’re so thoughtful explaining all the possible answers. how i wish i could have an internet connection in our home (so that i’ll be always updated). good night dear maggie sensei. n_n
どういたしまして！Have a nice day!
good day dear maggie sensei and everyone. i dont if this is the right thread for this question. i am having confusion for this words.
does the same principle (mo as the one that emphasize) also applies in konna ni mo
does that mean konna ni kawaii and konna ni mo kawaii are the same but konna ni mo has emphasazing power
and do these two sentencces have the same exact meaning:
konna ni mo kono omoi (feeling)
konna ni mo omoi
thank you so much in advance dear maggie sensei and everyone.
@obakasan000
Hello again, (Should I call you “orikousan000”?)
こんなに＜こんなにも (こんなにも is stronger. As you said も has a function of emphasizing)
a) 彼の妹がこんなにかわいい女の子だとは知らなかった。
= I didn’t know his sister was this cute.
b) 彼の妹がこんなにもかわいい女の子だとは知らなかった。(stronger)
= I didn’t know his sister was THIS cute.
****
konna ni mo kono omoi (feeling)
konna ni mo omoi
I have to guess what you wanted to say using these words but for example
a sentence like this?
こんなにもこの想いに苦しめられるなんて…
= Konnanimo kono omoi ni kurushimerareru nante…
I had no idea I would suffer from this feeling this much.
If so, your second sentence doesn’t have “この=kono” so it won’t specify the feeling so it won’t be the same.
If you wanted to compare the sentences
Konna ni kono omoi
Konna nimo kono omoi
the the later is stronger. (It emphasizes “this much” more.)
Hi maggie, could you explain the use of -nari in adjectives as in the following sentence? You’ll help me a lot!
ホテルの古いじゅうたんにｗｅｔｓｕｉｔを広げて準備している彼のうしろ姿が愛おしくなり、熱くて濃いcoffeeを淹てあげた。
Greetings, David!
The ～なり used in 愛おしくなり has the same meaning as ～なって, so 愛おしくなり＝愛おしくなって.
例）
１） 私の子どもはもう大きくなって、暗闇を恐れなくなった。 = 私の子どもはもう大きくなり、暗闇を恐れなくなりました。
２） 返事が遅くなり、申し訳なく存じます。 = 返事が遅くなって、申し訳なく存じます。
So as you can see the meaning is the same. However I think that なり is slightly more formal than なって. In everyday conversation, especially between friends, the ～て form （＝なって） would be used.
As for the translation: I sympathize with him, watching his preparations when he was spreading out his ｗｅｔｓｕｉｔ on the old carpet in the hotel, so [/and] I made him a hot, dark coffee.
However I’m not sure if my translation is correct because 愛おしい can mean: 1. 大事にして、かわいがりたくなるさま。 or 2. かわいそうだ。気の毒だ。 But I know someone, who will solve this problem＾＾
今はマギー先生の番ですよ！
Maggie先生、
次の文で「だって」の使いがよく分かりません、
分：「璃子も服が濡れてるし、光奈だってあたしを支えてたから、ほら！」
それはつまり、「璃子も服が濡れてるし、光奈だって’服が濡れてる、’あたしを支えてたから」それとも「璃子も服が濡れてるし、光奈だってあたしを支えてたから’服が濡れてる’」、どちらが正しいのか、教えてください。
ありがごうございます！
文脈：
「あんた達も一緒に入るのよ」
「え……」
「璃子も服が濡れてるし、光奈だってあたしを支えてたから、ほら！」
「あっ……！」
手を伸ばし光奈の腕を掴むと、思った通りその手は氷のように冷たかった。
「あたし一人だけ温まるってのもね。あんた達だってどうせ風呂に入るつもりなら、今一緒に入れば良いじゃん」
@よしや
こんにちは、よしや！
「璃子も服が濡れてるし、光奈だってあたしを支えてたから’服が濡れてる’」の解釈が正しいです。
だって means “even” “also” / Also it emphasize the noun which comes before だって
Thanks for the lesson~ I noticed this:
[A and B are talking about a book.
A : まだ半分も読み終えていない。
= Mada kono hon hanbun mo yomioete inai.]
There’s some text missing from the Japanese part or there’s some extra in the romanji. :) Not a big deal, but for a real beginner it may be confusing.
@papperogue
Thank you for Sporting the mistake.Right now I’m on vacation so I will fiv it as soon as I come back to Japan! ありがとう！
Hi, thanks for the great blog and lessons!
What is the meaning of し in NEWSも好きだし、嵐も好きだ。?
ありがとうございます！
@マルコ
Hi マルコ！
〜し here means “and”
(I will post a lesson on し next year!)
ありがとうございました、ゆかり先生！
あなたのブログが本当に好きだよ！
@マルコ
どういたしまして！！またいつでもこのブログに来て下さいね。
Wow! I never realized until now how many different uses there were for も! This is definitely a useful lesson to use as a reference during my studies. ありがとうございます、マギー先生!^_^
To the cute kitty: ニャー, ニャー!(Nice to meet you too!)
実は猫語が少しだけ話せますね…じょだんですよ(笑)
@Remi Ayumi Lee
Hi, Remi!
すご〜い！猫語がわかるのね。
Oh that was what she was saying. な〜んだ…I thought she was saying「マギーはかわいい❤」:)
幸せー
＠アフロ君
アフロ君、幸せそうでよかった！ :)
This lesson taught me so much!and I really love how you used NEWS in one of your examples! :D
ありがとうございます、マギー先生！。本当に楽しかったです！
@ninipana
レッスン楽しんでくれてうれしいです！ :)