でも
Or something, Any... (with question words), No matter (who)
Structure
だれでも - Anyone
なんでも - Anything
どこでも - Anywhere
いつでも - Anytime
Explanation
でも is classified as an adverbial particle in Japanese. Like other 助詞, it is placed after the word it modifies, but it serves a more specialized function. でも has a variety of uses, but this grammar point will focus on its role of 例示, which means 'to provide an example'.
In English, this function often translates to 'or something' or 'even'. The structure is formed by attaching でも directly to a noun or pronoun.
- 映画でも見ませんか。How about we watch a movie, or something?
- 子供でも分かりますよ。Even a child can understand it.
When used with a regular noun as seen above, でも indicates that the noun is just one suggestion or possibility among many. However, when paired with interrogative words like 誰, どこ, 何, or いつ, it forms words that correspond to English terms like 'anyone', 'anywhere', 'anything', and 'anytime'.
- この仕事は誰でもできます。Anyone can do this job.
- 「どこで食べようか？」「僕はどこでもいいよ。」'Where should we eat?' 'Anywhere is fine with me.'
- 彼女は何でも読みますね。She'll read anything, won't she?
- いつでも遊びに来てください。Please come hang out anytime.
Fun Fact
It is sometimes debated by native Japanese speakers whether でも is a distinct particle or simply a fusion of the particles で and も (or て and も with verbs, which will be covered later). Since で and も can together mean 'even with (A)', interpreting でも in this way is also a valid perspective.
- 石でも窓が割れる。A window will break, even with a rock.
Caution
When combined with 何, the pronunciation almost always becomes なん. This phonetic change happens simply to make なんでも smoother to pronounce.
Examples
私は何でも食べられます。
I can eat anything.
誰でもこのアプリを使うことができます。
Anyone can use this app.
仕事の後、ラーメンでも食べに行かない？
Want to go eat ramen or something after work?
どこでも座っていいですよ。
You can sit anywhere.
暇だから、本でも読もうかな。
I'm bored, so maybe I'll read a book or something.
いつでも質問してくださいね。
Please feel free to ask a question anytime.
ちょっと休んで、音楽でも聞きませんか。
Why don't we take a short break and listen to some music or something?
何でもいいですよ。
Anything is fine.
雨だから家でゲームでもしよう。
It's raining, so let's stay home and play some games or something.
私の辞書、いつでも使っていいよ。
You can use my dictionary anytime.
やることがないから、テレビでも見ようか。
There's nothing to do, so shall we watch TV or something?
誰でもその公園に入れます。
Anyone can enter that park.