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N4

でも

Or something (suggesting); any … (after question words); even …

「明日あしたはどこに行いきたい?」「どこでもいいよ。」

'Where do you want to go tomorrow?' 'Anywhere is fine.'

Explanation

「でも」 has 3 uses

1Suggesting something casually

Names one example when suggesting something, without insisting on it: 「お茶でも飲みませんか」. It sounds relaxed and leaves the other person a choice.

お茶ちゃでも飲のみましょうか。

Shall we drink some tea, or something?

お茶ちゃでもどう?

How about tea or something?

2Question word + でも

After a question word it means "any … at all": 「だれでも」 anyone, 「いつでも」 any time, 「どこでも」 anywhere, 「何でも」 anything.

どこでもいいよ。

Anywhere is good.

「明日あしたはどこに行いきたい?」「どこでもいいよ。」

'Where do you want to go tomorrow?' 'Anywhere is fine.'

3Even

After a noun, gives an extreme example: "even …": 「子供でも分かる」 even a child understands.

大丈夫だいじょうぶだよ、お前まえでも出来できるよ。

It's okay, even someone like you can do it.

スプーンでも缶詰かんづめが開あく。

A can will open, even with a spoon.

Mixed up with

「question word+でも」 takes an affirmative; 「question word+も」 takes a negative: 「だれでもできる」 (anyone can do it), 「だれもできない」 (nobody can do it).

「お茶でも」 casually names one example; even tea will do; 「お茶かコーヒー」 clearly asks the other person to pick one of two.

Do not use 「〜でも」 too casually with an elder; it can feel like a brush-off.

Examples

1Suggesting something casually

  1. お茶ちゃでも飲のみましょうか。

    Shall we drink some tea, or something?

  2. お茶ちゃでもどう?

    How about tea or something?

2Question word + でも

  1. この簡単かんたんな漢字かんじは誰だれでも分わかるよ。

    Everyone knows this easy kanji.

  2. どこでもいいよ。

    Anywhere is good.

3Even

  1. 大丈夫だいじょうぶだよ、お前まえでも出来できるよ。

    It's okay, even someone like you can do it.

  2. スプーンでも缶詰かんづめが開あく。

    A can will open, even with a spoon.

Tested 3 times in past papers

N2 · Jul 2017, Q40N3 · Dec 2013, Q44N3 · Jul 2012, Q37