immersionlog
Sign inCreate account

〜でも (or something)

or something, … perhaps

Noun + でも

Sign up free to review this point on a spaced schedule.

After a noun, でも softens a suggestion by making the item just one example: お茶でも飲みませんか, "shall we have some tea or something?" The speaker isn't insisting on tea; they're inviting you to take a break.

It replaces が and を, but goes after other particles: 公園にでも行こうか, "shall we go to the park or something?"

It's very common in invitations and offers: 映画でも見ようか, "how about a film?"; 雑誌でも読んで待っていてください, "please read a magazine or something while you wait".

Don't confuse it with the でも that means "but" at the start of a sentence, or with 〜でも〜でも, "either … or".

Examples

  • ちょっと休やすんで、お茶ちゃでも飲のみませんか。

    Let's take a break. How about some tea?

  • 暇ひまなら、映画えいがでも見みに行いこうか。

    If you're free, shall we go and see a film or something?

  • 雑誌ざっしでも読よんで待まっていてください。

    Please read a magazine or something while you wait.

  • 週末しゅうまつ、公園こうえんにでも行いかない?

    Want to go to the park or something at the weekend?

  • コーヒーでもいかがですか。

    Would you like a coffee or something?

Related