The Meaning of demo [でも] In Japanese

でも
でも
Romaji: demo N5

What does でも mean?

Translation and Meaning

but, however, even so, nevertheless

Definition

What does でも mean? It means ‘but’ or ‘however’, and functions as a conjunction to connect two clauses by signaling a contrast or a concession; it is most commonly attached to nouns or na-adjectives in casual and formal speech.

Type

conjunction (接続詞)

Stroke Order

Meanings

  • Contrasting conjunction indicating ‘but’ or ‘however’ between clauses.
  • Concessive usage meaning ‘even so’ or ‘nevertheless’ to acknowledge a previous point.
  • Indefinite/quantifier usage when attached to interrogatives or pronouns to form words meaning ‘anything’ or ‘anyone’ (e.g., 何でも, 誰でも).
  • Determinative extension meaning ‘even’ a noun phrase to highlight an inclusivity or contrast (XでもY).

Etymology

で the continuative form of the copula, も the particle ‘also/even’; together they function as a conjunctive unit expressing contrast and concession.

Origin

From classical Japanese usage of the te-form of the copula だ (で) combined with the particle も, a pattern that matured into the modern conjunction でも; attested in early modern and classical texts as a way to link contrasting ideas.

Usage

Used after nouns, noun phrases, and na-adjectives to connect clauses, signaling a shift or concession. In formal writing it can appear after phrases ending with だ in its predicative form, while with verbs the common contrastive form is ても, not でも.
💡 Tips
Mnemonic: DEMO can be read as a hinge word between two sentences: de = copula’s form, mo = also; imagine a door hinge that flips from one idea to the next.

Variations

  • but/however — keredomo (Romaji: keredomo)
  • however (more formal) — shikashi (Romaji: shikashi)
  • nevertheless, even so — soredemo (Romaji: soredemo)
  • anything/everyone (bound with compounds) — nan demo, dare demo (Romaji: nan demo, dare demo)

Example Phrases

  • 今日は 滅茶苦茶 忙しくて でも 友達 と 話せて よかった。
    Kyou wa mechakucha isogashikute demo tomodachi to hanasete yokatta.
    Today was extremely busy, but I was glad I could talk with a friend.
    Lista:
    • 今日は (Kyou wa) – Today
    • 滅茶苦茶 (mechakucha) – extremely
    • 忙しくて (isogashikute) – busy
    • でも (demo) – but
    • 友達 (tomodachi) – friend
    • と (to) – with
    • 話せて (hanasete) – able to talk
    • よかった (yokatta) – was glad
    「滅茶苦茶」 funciona como advérbio de intensidade; neste contexto modifica 忙しくて para significar ‘extremamente’.
  • 何でも いいから、 今日の 予定を 教えて。
    nandemo ii kara, kyou no yotei o oshiete.
    Anything is fine, so tell me today’s schedule.
    Lista:
    • 何でも (nandemo) – anything
    • いいから (ii kara) – it’s fine
    • 今日の (kyou no) – today’s
    • 予定を (yotei o) – schedule
    • 教えて (oshiete) – tell me
    Use 「何でも」 to mean ‘anything’; here it softens a request and expresses flexibility in what is acceptable.
  • 彼女は とんでもない 量の チョコを 買った.
    Kanojo wa tondemonai ryou no choko o katta.
    She bought an unbelievable amount of chocolate.
    Lista:
    • 彼女は (Kanojo wa) – she
    • とんでもない (tondemonai) – unbelievable
    • 量の (ryou no) – amount of
    • チョコを (choko o) – chocolate (object)
    • 買った (katta) – bought
    Here, 「とんでもない」 functions as a prenominal intensifier before the noun phrase 量の, meaning ‘unbelievable amount of’.
  • 何時までも 君と 一緒に 笑って 過ごしたい。
    Itsu made mo kimi to issho ni waratte sugoshitai.
    I want to stay with you forever and keep smiling.
    Lista:
    • 何時までも (Itsu made mo) – forever
    • 君と (kimi to) – with you
    • 一緒に (issho ni) – together
    • 笑って (waratte) – smiling
    • 過ごしたい (sugoshitai) – want to spend time
    Core point: 「何時までも」 means forever/for as long as and modifies the following verb phrase to express a lasting desire.
  • 地味 でも おしゃれ な 服 が 私 に 似合う。
    Jimi demo oshare na fuku ga watashi ni niau.
    Even plain clothes look good on me.
    Lista:
    • 地味 (jimi) – plain
    • でも (demo) – but
    • おしゃれ (oshare) – fashionable
    • な (na) – (nominalizing suffix)
    • 服 (fuku) – clothes
    • が (ga) – (subject marker)
    • 私 (watashi) – I / me
    • に (ni) – to / for
    • 似合う (niau) – to suit / look good on
    地味 is a na-adjective meaning ‘plain’; here it forms the concessive phrase 「地味でもおしゃれな服」 to modify 「服」, and 「似合う」 means ‘to suit’ or ‘look good on’.
でも