“〜tari tomo 〜nai”: Not Even a Single 〜 [JLPT N1]

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

「一秒たりとも無駄にしない」「一円たりとも払わない」 — stressing that not even the smallest unit allows an exception.

「一秒たりとも無駄にできない」 — not even a single ～

To say with iron resolve “not even a second can be wasted,” “not a single yen slips by,” Japanese uses the very strong negative pattern 「たりとも」 — 「一秒たりとも無駄にできない (not even a second can be wasted).」 「(一 ＋ counter) たりとも〜ない」 = not even one ～, not a single ～. It raises the smallest unit to negate it, with iron-clad resolve — an advanced written pattern for determination, rules, and warnings, cross-referencing emphatic negatives like 〈も〜ない〉〈すら〉.

Core: not even one ～ (raise the smallest unit for total negation)

「(一 ＋ counter) たりとも〜ない」 = not even one ～, not a single ～:

• 一日たりとも忘れたことはない (not even for a day have I forgotten).
• 一円たりとも無駄にはしない (I won't waste even a single yen).
• 一人たりとも逃がさない (I won't let even one get away).

Feel: it first raises “the single smallest unit” (一秒・一日・一円・一人・一歩), then negates totally, using “not even the smallest” to stress “(let alone the rest,) none at all, absolutely not.” The tone is iron-clad, brooks no exception, carrying strong resolve, principle, warning. It's a written, solemn expression, mostly for oaths, rules, formal statements, weighty resolve. In English: not even one ～, not a single ～. (For related emphatic negatives, see 〈も〜ない〉〈すら〉.)

Attachment rules

See it in context

• 締め切りまで、一日たりとも無駄にできない。(Until the deadline, not even a day can be wasted.)
• あなたのことは一時たりとも忘れたことがない。(I have not forgotten you even for a moment.)
• 会社の金は一円たりとも私的に使わない。(Of the company's money, I won't use even a single yen privately.)
• 敵を一人たりとも通すな。(Don't let even one enemy through.)
• 何人たりとも、この規則を破ることは許されない。(No one at all is permitted to break this rule.)

⚠️ Where learners slip up

① The front is almost fixed as 「一 ＋ counter,」 and a negative must follow. The typical structure of 「たりとも」 is 「一 ＋ counter ＋ たりとも ＋ negative」 — the front raises “the single smallest unit” (一秒・一日・一円・一人・一歩・一滴), and a negative must follow (〜ない・〜まい・許さない): 一秒たりとも休まない, 一円たりとも無駄にしない, 一歩たりとも引かない. These two are iron rules: preceded by 「一 ＋ counter,」 followed by a negative. You can't say 「二秒たりとも」 (not 「一」) or follow it with an affirmative (✗一秒たりとも休む). Test: to stress “not even the single smallest unit” → 一 ＋ counter ＋ たりとも ＋ negative.

② 「たりとも」 is not 「たり〜たり」 — don't mix them up. At beginner level you learned 「〜たり〜たり (both … and …, now … now …),」 which is a list: 食べたり飲んだり (eating and drinking). This guide's 「(一) たりとも」 is a completely different N1 pattern — the emphatic negative “not even one ～,” one word (たりとも), not a repeated 「たり.」 Difference: 「〜たり〜たり」 = a list (both … and …); 「(一) たりとも〜ない」 = not even one ～ (emphatic negative). Test: 「(一 ＋ counter) たりとも」 followed by a negative → emphatic negative “not even one”; repeated 「〜たり〜たり」 → a list.

③ The tone is iron-clad, solemn — not for everyday trivia. 「たりとも」 carries strong resolve, principle, warning, with an iron-clad, no-exception tone, a written, solemn expression mostly for oaths, rules, formal statements, weighty resolve: 一円たりとも無駄にしない (oath-like resolve), 何人たりとも許されない (a rule, a statement). For everyday trivia it's too heavy, unnatural — to say “I don't want to move at all,” everyday uses ちっとも動きたくない, not 一ミリたりとも動きたくない (unless deliberately exaggerating). Test: to solemnly state resolve, set a rule, issue a warning → たりとも (solemn, iron-clad); everyday trivia → use ちっとも／少しも〜ない.

④ In 「何人たりとも,」 「何人」 reads 「なんぴと」 and means “anyone.” In the fixed expression 「何人たりとも,」 「何人」 is not read 「なんにん (how many people)」 but 「なんぴと,」 meaning “anyone, whoever it may be”: 何人たりとも立ち入るべからず (no one may enter), 何人たりとも法の下に平等 (all are equal under the law). It's a literary, solemn fixed phrasing, mostly in rules, statutes, formal notices. Test: on seeing 「何人たりとも,」 read it なんぴと and take it as “anyone (not) ～.”

🔄 Compare: たりとも／も〜ない／すら／だに

💡 An exam judgment tip

「たりとも」 is a powerful pattern — it raises “the single smallest unit” (a second, a yen, a person) to negate it, carrying iron-clad, no-exception resolve in a single phrase. Remember three iron rules: ① preceded by 「一 ＋ counter,」 followed by a negative (一秒たりとも休まない); ② don't confuse it with 「〜たり〜たり」 (a list) (completely different); ③ the tone is solemn, iron-clad — save it for oaths, rules, weighty resolve, while everyday trivia uses 「ちっとも／少しも〜ない.」 One more small trap: the fixed 「何人たりとも」 reads 「なんぴと」 and means “anyone” (not “how many people”). To state resolve or set a rule solemnly, 「たりとも」 carries the most weight.

❓ Common questions

Q: What's the difference between 「一秒たりとも」 and 「一秒も」? Both “not even a second”?

Close in meaning (both “not even a second ～”), differing in ‘tone, register, weight.' 「一秒たりとも〜ない」 = not even a second ～ (iron-clad, solemn): 「たりとも」 is an N1, written, solemn emphatic negative, with an iron-clad, no-exception tone and strong resolve, principle, warning — 「一秒たりとも無駄にできない」 gives a weighty, forceful impression of “resolved, brooking no exception,” mostly for oaths, rules, formal resolve. 「一秒も〜ない」 = not even a second ～ (general, neutral): 「(一) も〜ない」 is a general total negation (see 〈も〜ない〉), usable in writing and speech, with a neutral tone, without 「たりとも」's iron-clad solemnity — 「一秒も無駄にできない」 just generally stresses “can't waste a second.” Difference: 「たりとも」 iron-clad, solemn, resolute (N1, oaths, rules); 「も〜ない」 neutral, general (everyday and written). Test: to say “not even one ～” weightily, forcefully, with resolve → たりとも (solemn); to say it generally → も〜ない (general). So 「一秒たりとも」 is heavier, more resolute, more written than 「一秒も.」

Q: How is 「何人たりとも」 read? Does it mean “how many people”?

Not “how many people”! A common misreading. In 「何人たりとも,」 「何人」 reads 「なんぴと」 (not 「なんにん = how many people」), meaning “anyone, whoever it may be.” The whole 「何人たりとも〜ない／〜べからず」 = “no one at all ～, whoever it is (does not) ～”: 何人たりとも立ち入るべからず (no one may enter), 何人たりともこの掟を破ることは許されない (no one is permitted to break this rule), 法の下に何人たりとも平等である (all are equal under the law). It's a literary, solemn fixed phrasing — 「何人（なんぴと）」 = 「何びと」 = “anyone,” followed by 「たりとも」 and then a negative or prohibition (〜ない・〜べからず・許されない), meaning “whoever it is, not ～.” Mostly in rules, statutes, formal notices, solemn statements. Test: on seeing 「何人たりとも,」 read it 「なんぴと」 and take it as “anyone (not) ～,” not 「なんにん (how many people).」

🖊️ Practice Questions (5)

Q1. 「締め切りまで、一日___無駄にできない。」（can't waste even a single day）

(A) たりとも　(B) だけに　(C) ばかり　(D) こそ

Q2. 「一瞬___油断は許されない。」（can't let your guard down for even a moment）

(A) たりとも　(B) どころか　(C) ながら　(D) として

Q3. 「一円たりとも無駄にできない」の意味は?

(A) Can't waste even a single yen (strong negation)

(B) Wasting a little money is fine

(C) Waste only one yen

(D) Money can be spent freely

Q4. 「たりとも〜ない」の語感として正しいのは?

(A) An extremely strong, total negation; formal/written

(B) Casual colloquial

(C) Indicates affirmation

(D) Indicates a question

Q5. 「たりとも」の前に最も来やすいのは?

(A) 一 ＋ a counter (一日・一円・一瞬)　(B) A verb て-form

(C) An い-adjective　(D) Just interrogatives

Answer Explanations

1. (A) たりとも ── 一日たりとも〜ない = not even a single day.

2. (A) たりとも ── 一瞬たりとも〜ない = not even a moment.

3. (A) ── Can't waste even a single yen (strong negation).

4. (A) ── An extremely strong, total negation; formal/written.

5. (A) ── Usually attaches to 「一 ＋ a counter」.