“〜dare demo・〜nan demo・〜itsu demo”: Anyone / Anything / Anytime [JLPT N1]

Content by NTJ Kuma · Nihongo to Japan editorial team · Updated July 27, 2026

「誰でもできる」「何でもいい」 — “any 〜 at all,” the full-affirmation partner of question-word ＋ も.

「誰でもできる、何でも聞いて」 — anyone, anything, all of it ～

To express “no exceptions, any ～ is fine,” Japanese uses “question word ＋ でも” — 「この操作は簡単で、誰でもできる (this operation is simple, anyone can do it).」 「〜誰でも／〜何でも／〜いつでも」 = anyone／anything／anytime. It expresses total, exception-free universality. This guide clarifies “question word ＋ でも (total affirmation),” and separating it from “question word ＋ も ＋ negative (total negation)” and “question word ＋ ても (concession).”

Core: any ～ (at all), any ～ whatsoever (total affirmation, no exceptions)

「question word ＋ でも」 means “any ～, any ～ at all” — total, exception-free, every one applies／is fine:

• 誰でも (anyone): この仕事は誰でもできる (anyone can do this job).
• 何でも (anything): 分からないことは何でも聞いてください (ask anything you don't understand).
• いつでも (anytime): いつでも遊びに来てね (come over anytime).
• どこでも (anywhere): どこでも好きな席に座って (sit anywhere you like).
• どれでも (any one): どれでも一つ選んでいい (you may pick any one).

Feel: “question word (誰／何／いつ／どこ／どれ／どちら) ＋ でも” means “total, no exceptions — any one ～, any is fine,” a total affirmation of universality. In English: any(one／thing／time／where), any ～ at all, anytime／anywhere.

Attachment rules

Examples in context

• 努力すれば、誰でも上達できる。(With effort, anyone can improve.)
• あの店なら、何でもそろっている。(At that shop, they have everything.)
• 質問があれば、いつでもメールしてください。(If you have questions, email anytime.)
• スマホがあれば、どこでも仕事ができる。(With a smartphone, you can work anywhere.)
• 好きなものを、どれでも選んでいいよ。(You may pick any one you like.)

⚠️ Common mistakes to avoid

① ⭐Don't confuse ‘question word ＋ でも' (total affirmation) with ‘question word ＋ も ＋ negative' (total negation). This is the key point. The same question word, with 「でも」 vs with 「も ＋ negative,」 means the exact opposite: 「question word ＋ でも」 = any ～ (total affirmation, any is fine／～): 誰でもできる (anyone can do it — total affirmation, anyone), 何でもある (has everything), いつでもいい (anytime is fine). 「question word ＋ も ＋ negative」 = no one ～ (total negation, not a single one ～): 誰もできない (no one can do it — total negation, not one person can), 何もない (there's nothing), どこにもない (nowhere is there any). Difference: 「〜でも」 = total affirmation (any is fine); 「〜も ＋ negative」 = total negation (not a single one). Test: to say “any ～ is fine／～” (affirmative) → question word ＋ でも (誰でもできる); to say “not a single one ～, there's none” (negative) → question word ＋ も ＋ negative (誰もできない). These two are opposite — never mix them up.

② Memorize each question word ＋ でも. In attachment, nail each: 誰でも (anyone), 何でも (anything), いつでも (anytime), どこでも (anywhere), どれでも／どちらでも (any one), いくつでも (as many as you like), 何回でも (any number of times). All mean “total, no exceptions.” Test: by “person／thing／time／place／choice,” pick the matching question word (誰／何／いつ／どこ／どれ) ＋ でも.

③ Separate it from ‘question word ＋ ても' — でも is a noun-like universal, ても is a verb concession. Both express “no matter ～,” but differ in attachment, use. 「question word ＋ でも」 = any ～ (total affirmation, mostly used standalone as a pronoun): 誰でも歓迎 (anyone is welcome — 誰でも as subject／object), 何でもいい (anything is fine). It's mostly used standalone (誰でも, 何でも as one word). 「question word ＋ (verb) ても」 = no matter ～ (concession, with a verb): 誰が来ても、対応する (no matter who comes, I'll deal with it — 誰が ＋ 来ても, a verb concession), 何を言っても、聞かない (whatever you say, they won't listen), いくら頑張っても (no matter how hard you try). It's the concessive “question word ＋ verb て-form ＋ も.” Difference: 「question word ＋ でも」 = total affirmation (any ～, mostly standalone); 「question word ＋ (verb) ても」 = concession (no matter ～, with a verb). Test: to say “any ～ (is fine)” (universal affirmation) → question word ＋ でも (誰でも); to say “no matter ～ (still …)” (concession, with a verb) → question word ＋ verb ても (誰が来ても).

🔄 Compare: question word ＋ でも／question word ＋ も ＋ negative／question word ＋ ても

💡 Quick takeaway

「〜誰でも／〜何でも／〜いつでも」 = anyone／anything／anytime — three points: ①⭐don't confuse ‘question word ＋ でも' (total affirmation) with ‘question word ＋ も ＋ negative' (total negation) — 誰でもできる (anyone can) vs 誰もできない (no one can), opposite; ② each question word ＋ でも (誰／何／いつ／どこ／どれ ＋ でも); ③ separate it from ‘question word ＋ ても (a verb concession)' — でも is mostly standalone as a pronoun, ても takes a verb. This set is a super-high-frequency “total, no exceptions” expression — 「誰でも歓迎」「何でも聞いて」「いつでもどうぞ」 are friendly and handy. The easiest trap is flipping 「でも (any is fine)」 and 「も ＋ negative (not a single one)」 — remember “でも = all fine, も ＋ negative = none” and you're set.

❓ Common questions

Q: What's the difference between 「誰でもできる」 and 「誰もできない」? Just 「でも/も」?

A big difference — the exact opposite! 「でも」 is total affirmation, 「も ＋ negative」 is total negation. 「question word ＋ でも」 = any ～ (total affirmation, any is fine／～): 「誰でもできる」 = “anyone can do it, everyone can” — a total affirmation, “no exceptions, every single person can”: この問題は簡単だから、誰でも解ける (this problem is easy, so anyone can solve it), 何でも相談してください (consult me about anything). 「question word ＋ も ＋ negative」 = no one ～ (total negation, not a single one ～): 「誰もできない」 = “not a single person can do it, no one can” — a total negation, “not one exception, every single one can't”: この問題は難しくて、誰も解けない (this problem is hard, no one can solve it), 何もなかった (there was nothing). So 「誰でもできる」 (anyone can) and 「誰もできない」 (no one can) are exact opposites! The key: 「question word ＋ でも」 = total affirmation (all can); 「question word ＋ も ＋ (negative)」 = total negation (none can). Test: to say “any ～ is fine／～” → question word ＋ でも (＋ affirmative: 誰でもできる); to say “not a single one ～, there's none” → question word ＋ も ＋ negative (誰もできない／何もない). Chinese speakers most easily mix these up — remember “でも with affirmative = all fine, も with negative = all not” and you won't err.

Q: What's the difference between 「誰でも」 and 「誰が来ても」?

The difference is ‘standalone as a pronoun (universal affirmation)' vs ‘a verb concession.' 「question word ＋ でも」 = any ～ (total affirmation, mostly standalone): 「誰でも」 is a standalone word meaning “anyone, no matter who,” mostly used directly as subject, object: 誰でも参加できる (anyone can join — 誰でも as subject), 何でもいい (anything is fine — 何でも as object), いつでもどうぞ (welcome anytime). It's the universal affirmation “any ～ (is fine),” itself a pronoun. 「question word ＋ (verb) ても」 = no matter ～ (concession, with a verb て-form): 「誰が来ても」 is the concessive structure “誰が (subject) ＋ 来て (verb て-form) ＋ も,” meaning “no matter who comes (this act), (the result) …”: 誰が来ても、私は驚かない (no matter who comes, I won't be surprised — supposing anyone comes), 何を言っても、彼は聞かない (whatever you say, he won't listen), どこへ行っても、人が多い (wherever you go, it's crowded). It needs a verb (て-form) for concession. Difference: 「誰でも」 = a standalone pronoun “anyone” (universal affirmation, directly subject/object); 「誰が来ても」 = a concessive structure “no matter who comes” (question word ＋ verb て ＋ も). Test: to say “anyone (is fine)” (standalone subject/object) → 誰でも (誰でもできる); to say “no matter who does ～ (this act), …” (concession, with a verb) → question word ＋ verb ても (誰が来ても). In short: 誰でも = anyone (pronoun); 誰が〜ても = no matter who ～ (concession).

🖊️ Practice Questions (5)

Q1. 「やる気があれば、___できる。」(anyone can do it)

(A) 誰でも　(B) 誰も(否定向き)　(C) 誰か　(D) 誰の

Q2. Which expresses total negation?

(A) 疑問詞＋も＋否定（誰も来ない）　(B) 疑問詞＋でも　(C) 名詞＋でも　(D) 疑問詞＋か

Q3. What does 「何でも相談して」 mean?

(A) You can consult about anything

(B) Don't say anything

(C) You can only consult about one thing

(D) Don't consult

Q4. What does 「疑問詞＋でも」 mean?

(A) No matter what ~, all (total affirmation)

(B) Total negation

(C) Giving an example

(D) A question

Q5. Which usage is natural?

(A) いつでも連絡してください。　(B) 誰でも来ない(否定は 誰も)。

(C) どこでも行かない(否定は どこへも)。　(D) 何でもだ高い。

Answer Explanations

1. (A) 誰でも ── Anyone can do it.

2. (A) ── 疑問詞＋も＋否定 = total negation.

3. (A) ── You can consult about anything.

4. (A) ── No matter what ~, all (total affirmation).

5. (A) ── 「いつでも連絡してください」 is correct.