“demo”: But / Even / Such As (three uses) [JLPT N5]
Content by NTJ Kuma · Nihongo to Japan editorial team · Updated July 27, 2026
「疲れた。でも行く」「雨でも行く」「コーヒーでも飲もう」 — one でも: but, even, or “…or something.”
One 「でも」, three completely different meanings
「疲れた。でも、行く」 (I'm tired, but I'll go), 「雨でも行く」 (I'll go even if it rains), 「コーヒーでも飲もう」 (Let's grab a coffee or something) — the same 「でも」, three very different meanings. At N5 it has three jobs: sentence-initial = but (contrast); noun ＋ でも = even… (concession); noun ＋ でも = …or something (casual example). Position and tone tell them apart.
Three uses — position gives it away
- Sentence-initial 「でも」 = but (a turn, = casual しかし): 高い。でも、買う.
- noun ＋ でも = even… / even a… (an extreme example): 雨でも行く, 子供でも分かる.
- noun ＋ でも = …or something (a light suggestion): お茶でも飲む？
First check if 「でも」 starts the sentence → “but”; if it follows a noun → decide between “even” and “…or something” by the tone.
The three uses
| Use | Position | Example |
|---|---|---|
| but (contrast) | sentence-initial | でも、行く |
| even… (concession) | noun ＋ でも | 雨でも行く |
| …or something | noun ＋ でも | コーヒーでも |
Examples in context
- 高い。でも、買います。(It's expensive. But I'll buy it.) — but
- 疲れた。でも、最後まで諦めない。(I'm tired. But I won't give up.) — contrast
- 雨でも、試合は行います。(The match is on even if it rains.) — even if
- こんな簡単な問題、子供でも分かる。(This is so easy even a kid gets it.) — even a…
- 喉が渇いたね。コーヒーでも飲もうか。(I'm thirsty — shall we grab a coffee or something?) — …or something
⚠️ Common mistakes to avoid
① “Even” for a verb isn't でも, it's ても. “Even if it rains” uses the noun 「雨でも」, but “even if I go” needs the verb form 「行っても」 (✗ 行くでも). Nouns take でも, verbs take ても.
② Don't miss the “…or something” use. 「コーヒーでも飲む？」 isn't “even coffee” — it's “shall we have coffee or something?”, a soft, non-pushy suggestion. English has no exact word for it, so it's easily misread as “but” or “even.”
🔄 Compare with similar forms: でも / ても / けど
| Form | Use | Example |
|---|---|---|
| でも (initial) | but (contrast) | でも、行く |
| noun ＋ でも | even… / …or something | 雨でも／お茶でも |
| verb ＋ ても | even if… (with a verb) | 行っても |
| けど | but (joins mid-sentence) | 高いけど買う |
💡 The one thing to remember
Don't rote-learn the three uses — follow one order: first, is 「でも」 at the start of the sentence? If so, it's almost always “but.” If it follows a noun, decide between “even (extreme example)” and “…or something (casual suggestion)” — the latter is the lightest in tone; hearing 「〜でも飲む？／〜でも見る？」 usually means someone's inviting you to relax.
❓ Quick FAQ
Q: Are 「雨でも行く」 and 「雨が降っても行く」 the same?
Close — both mean “I'll go even if it rains.” Use 「雨でも」 with the noun; with the verb 降る you need 「降っても」. でも with nouns, ても with verbs — that's the key.
Q: Why is 「お茶でも」 “…or something,” not “even”?
Context: in an invitation or suggestion (飲む？行く？) it's the light “…or something”; only when stressing an extreme condition (雨でも・子供でも) is it “even / even a….”
🖊️ Practice Questions (5)
Q1. 「高い。___、買います。」(It's expensive, but I'll still buy it — colloquial concession)
(A) でも (B) だから (C) なので (D) それで
Q2. 「___分かる問題だ。」(A problem even a child can understand — the most extreme case)
(A) 子供でも (B) 子供だから (C) 子供なら (D) 子供しか
Q3. 「ちょっとコーヒー___飲みませんか。」(How about some coffee or something? — casual suggestion)
(A) だから (B) でも (C) から (D) なら
Q4. 以下のどれが句首の「でも（逆接）」の例？
(A) 雨でも行く
(B) でも、疲れた
(C) 何でも食べる
(D) お茶でもどう？
Q5. 「疲れた。___、諦めない。」に最も合うのは？
(A) だから (B) でも (C) それで (D) なので
Answer Explanations
1. (A) でも ── 「高い。でも、買います」(it's expensive, but I'll still buy it) = sentence-initial でも = concessive conjunction (however). だから・なので・それで are all consequential (therefore/so); using them would make it 'I buy it because it's expensive,' the opposite meaning, so they can't be used.
2. (A) 子供でも ── 「子供でも分かる」(even a child understands) = noun + でも = 'even ~,' emphasizing that even the most extreme case (a child = the person least likely to understand) can do it, let alone an adult.
3. (B) でも ── 「コーヒーでも飲みませんか」(How about some coffee or something?) = noun + でも = a casual suggestion, giving a loose example without forcing it.
4. (B) でも、疲れた ── Sentence-initial でも (concessive conjunction) appears at the very start of a sentence, meaning 'but/however.' (A)(C)(D) are all the noun + でも usage.
5. (B) でも ── 「疲れた。でも、諦めない」(I'm tired, but I won't give up) = sentence-initial でも shows a concessive turn. から and ので are reasons, and それで is 'therefore → consequential,' none of which fit the meaning of a contrast.