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何でも・いつでも・どこでも・誰でも

anything, any time, anywhere, anyone

Question word + でも

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A question word plus でも means "any … at all": 何でも (anything), いつでも (any time), どこでも (anywhere), 誰でも (anyone), どれでも (whichever).

It's positive and open: 何でも食べます, "I'll eat anything"; いつでも電話してください, "call me any time".

Compare the three question-word patterns:

  • か: 何か, "something" (one thing, unknown).
  • も + negative: 何も食べない, "I don't eat anything".
  • でも: 何でも食べる, "I eat anything".

Mixing up 何も and 何でも is a very common slip, and it flips the meaning. Note too that 何でも is read なんでも, while 何も is read なにも.

Examples

  • 何なんでも食たべます。

    I'll eat anything.

  • いつでも電話でんわしてください。

    Call me any time.

  • このカードはどこでも使つかえます。

    You can use this card anywhere.

  • この問題もんだいは誰だれでもわかります。

    Anyone can understand this problem.

  • どれでも好すきなのを取とってください。

    Take whichever one you like.

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