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〜たりとも

not even (one)

One + counter + たりとも + negative

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たりとも after the smallest possible amount means "not even one": 一円たりとも無駄にはできない, "we can't waste a single yen".

It follows 一 + counter: 一円, 一日, 一瞬, 一秒, 一人 (誰一人たりとも). The second half is negative, usually a prohibition or strong determination: できない, してはならない, 許さない, 〜な.

It's emphatic and formal, and it appears in speeches, rules and dramatic dialogue. The everyday versions are 一円も and 一円でも.

It comes from the classical たり (= である) plus とも ("even if"), so it's literally "even if it is one yen".

Examples

  • 一円いちえんたりとも無駄むだにはできない。

    We can't waste a single yen.

  • 一日いちにちたりとも練習れんしゅうを休やすんだことはない。

    I've never missed a single day of practice.

  • 試合中しあいちゅうは一瞬いっしゅんたりとも気きを抜ぬけない。

    During a match, you can't relax for even a moment.

  • 一秒いちびょうたりとも遅おくれてはならない。

    You must not be even one second late.

  • 誰一人だれひとりたりともここを通とおすな。

    Don't let a single person through here.

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