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N3

Examples, Open Choice, and “Even” with でも

About 10 minutes · written and reviewed by Haruki Yamamoto

Section 1 of 3

Core meaning

At N3, でも is worth revisiting because it appears in several useful reading patterns. After a noun, it can suggest an example or non-final option: “how about coffee or something?” In other contexts it can broaden meaning to “any” or add an “even” nuance.

  1. Target signal

    時間があるなら、コーヒーでも飲みませんか。

    If you have time, shall we have coffee or something?

    でも gives an open example rather than a fixed choice.

    Vocabulary notes
    ませんか〜ませんか
    won't you ...?; shall we ...?
    コーヒー
    coffee
    みません
    do not watch; will not see

  2. Compare in context

    休みの日でも、この図書館は開いている。

    This library is open even on holidays.

    Here でも means 'even' in an inclusive statement.

    Vocabulary notes
    ている〜ている
    to be doing; to be in a resulting state
    図書館としょかん
    library
    いる
    to exist; to be

Section 2 of 3

Question word + でも

When でも follows a question word, it often creates an “any” meaning: だれでも, なんでも, どこでも, いつでも. These forms are very common in notices, explanations, and rules.

  1. Target signal

    このアプリはだれでも無料で使える。

    Anyone can use this app for free.

    Question word + でも creates a broad 'anyone' meaning.

    Vocabulary notes
    アプリ
    app; application
    使えるつかえる
    to be able to use
    この
    this

  2. Preview

    分からないことがあれば、いつでも聞いてください。

    If there is anything you do not understand, please ask anytime.

    The speaker opens the time range completely with いつでも.

    Vocabulary notes
    てください〜てください
    please do ...
    分からないわからない
    not understand; not know
    ください
    please give; please do

Section 3 of 3

Reading notes

Do not translate every でも the same way. Read the larger structure. In invitations it often means “something like…”. In inclusive statements it may mean “any”. In contrastive statements it may carry the sense of “even”.

  1. Target signal

    忙しい人でも続けやすい学習法です。

    This is a study method that is easy to continue even for busy people.

    The sentence means 'even for busy people,' not 'for example busy people.'

    Vocabulary notes
    やすい
    cheap; inexpensive
    忙しいいそがしい
    busy
    です
    to be (polite); is; am; are

  2. Preview

    昼ごはんでも買ってから行こう。

    Let's buy lunch or something before we go.

    でも suggests 'lunch or something like that' before the next action.

    Vocabulary notes
    昼ごはんひるごはん
    lunch
    てから〜てから
    after doing ...
    ごはん
    meal; rice

Reading in context

Read for meaning before checking the answer

Before you read

Read once for the situation. Then notice how Examples, Open Choice, and “Even” with でも changes the meaning before you check the translation.

時間があるなら、コーヒーでも飲みませんか。 休みの日でも、この図書館は開いている。 このアプリはだれでも無料で使える。 分からないことがあれば、いつでも聞いてください。 忙しい人でも続けやすい学習法です。 昼ごはんでも買ってから行こう。 もう一度読んでください。前後の文を比べてください。場面と話し手を考えてください。意味の流れを最後まで確認して、使い分けを考えてください。もう一度読んでください。前後の文を比べてください。場面と話し手を考えてください。意味の流れを最後まで確認して、使い分けを考えて

Show English translation

If you have time, shall we have coffee or something? This library is open even on holidays. Anyone can use this app for free. If there is anything you do not understand, please ask anytime. This is a study method that is easy to continue even for busy people. Let's buy lunch or something before we go.

Contextual questions

Answer from the passage before you reveal each explanation.

  1. What is the first reading job for this passage?

    • Identify the situation and how Examples, Open Choice, and “Even” with でも changes it.
    • Translate every word before using context.
    • Ignore the ending because only vocabulary matters.
    • Choose an answer before reading the full passage.
    Check the answer

    Identify the situation and how Examples, Open Choice, and “Even” with でも changes it.

    The goal is to use the situation first, then confirm the role of Examples, Open Choice, and “Even” with でも in context.

Guided practice

Apply the lesson in a few different ways

Work through each prompt, then check the explanation before moving on.

Activity 1 of 4Choose the best context

In 『コーヒーでも飲みませんか』, what does でも mean?

Activity 2 of 4Fill the blank

Complete the chunk that carries the lesson meaning (Examples, Open Choice, and “Even” with でも).

時間があるなら、コーヒーでも飲み＿＿＿。

Activity 3 of 4Put it in order

Put these related examples back into the order used in the lesson.

  1. 1休みの日でも、この図書館は開いている。
  2. 2このアプリはだれでも無料で使える。
  3. 3時間があるなら、コーヒーでも飲みませんか。
Activity 4 of 4Infer from the passage

What should guide your interpretation of Examples, Open Choice, and “Even” with でも in the mini-reading?

Mastery check 1/3

In 『コーヒーでも飲みませんか』, what does でも mean?