〜でも — Even…; …or something (soft suggestion) | JLPT N4 grammar

Meaning

Two uses: 'even' — an extreme or unexpected example (子どもでも分かる, even a child understands); and a soft suggestion that gives one example and leaves the choice open (お茶でも飲みませんか, how about some tea or something?).

Formation

It follows a noun: 子どもでも, コーヒーでも
It replaces を and が and is added to に and で

When to use it

Core use: Even…; …or something (soft suggestion)

Examples

20 sentences

忙しいいそがしい日ひでも朝ご飯あさごはんは食べたべます
Even on busy days I eat breakfast.
子どもこどもでも分かるわかる説明せつめいです
This explanation is easy enough for even a child to understand.
その箱はこは軽いかるいので一人ひとりでも運べはこべます
That box is light, so even one person can carry it.
休みやすみの日ひは家いえで映画えいがでも見みます
On my day off I might at least watch a movie at home.
雨あめでもこの猫ねこは外そとに出でたがります
This cat wants to go outside even in the rain.
一日いちにち十分じゅっぷんでも毎日まいにち続けれつづければ力ちからになります
Even ten minutes a day will help if you keep doing it every day.
少しすこし疲れつかれたので温かいあたたかいお茶おちゃでも飲みのみませんか
We are a little tired, so shall we have some warm tea or something?
一分いっぷんでも目めを閉じるとじると少しすこし楽らくになります
Even closing your eyes for one minute can make you feel better.

12 more examples

機械きかいが苦手にがてな私わたしでもこのスマホなら簡単かんたんに使えつかえます
Even I, who am bad with technology, can use this phone easily.
雪ゆきでも子どもこどもたちは外そとで元気げんきに遊びあそびます
Even in the snow, the children play energetically outside.
少しすこしお茶おちゃでも飲みのみませんか
Would you like some tea or something?
日曜日にちようびは映画えいがでも見みましょう
Let's watch a film or something on Sunday.
分からわからなければ先生せんせいにでも聞いきいてください
If you do not understand, ask the teacher, for example.
散歩さんぽでもしてきます
I think I will go for a walk or something.
子どもこどもでもこの問題もんだいは解けとけます
Even a child can solve this problem.
水みずでもいいですか
Would water be all right?
忙しいいそがしい日ひでも家族かぞくと晩ご飯ばんごはんを食べたべます
I eat dinner with my family even on busy days.
公園こうえんででも話しはなしましょう
Let's talk somewhere like the park.
お土産おみやげにお菓子おかしでも買いかいましょう
Let's buy some sweets or something as souvenirs.
一人ひとりでも大丈夫だいじょうぶです
I will be fine even on my own.

Important notes

でも offers an example without insisting on that exact choice: お茶でも飲みませんか.

Common mistakes

Distinguish this suggestion from concessive でも meaning even if or even.

Check yourself

Pick the translation of each sentence. The wrong options translate similar patterns, so watch the grammar rather than the words.

Sentence 1: 機械きかいが苦手にがてな私わたしでもこのスマホなら簡単かんたんに使えつかえます This bag is too expensive.This dog only goes for walks with me.Even I, who am bad with technology, can use this phone easily.
Sentence 2: 子どもこどもでもこの問題もんだいは解けとけます Even a child can solve this problem.You can only use cash at this shop.This problem is too difficult.
Sentence 3: 一人ひとりでも大丈夫だいじょうぶです I will be fine even on my own.This room is too quiet and feels a little scary.There is only one person in the classroom.

Similar grammar

Hear it in podcasts

The pattern appears in these episodes. They open in the app with the transcript and translation.

ゆうたとシロN4 · 2 min 59 s