でも
Meanings
- Or something
- Any... (with question words)
- No matter (who)
About this pattern
Explanation
でも is a versatile word used to mean 'but' or 'nevertheless' when linking two clauses, and as a particle after question words to indicate 'any ...' (e.g., 何でも, 誰でも) meaning 'anything' or 'everyone'. In everyday speech, it often comes with いい/大丈夫 to express that any option is acceptable, or to show that the speaker is not restricted to a single choice. It can also appear at the beginning of a sentence to contrast with what was expected, roughly translating to 'but...' in English.
Learn in context
Example sentences
Anything is fine, so please give me that.
Can anyone come?
Is any kind okay?
I'm busy today. But I will do my best.
Either cheap or expensive is fine with me.
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