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Study Resource: Summary of all the uses of も (mo)

By: Mayumi Ito

The chart below summarizes all of the common uses of the particle も transcribed mo in Japanese. Follow the links to learn more about each use.


Function of も transcribed mo	Structure	English equivalents	Example
Similarity Learn more: も transcribed mo with nouns も transcribed mowith non-nouns	parallel element + も	too, also, as well, either	ぼくもラーメンが大好きです。 Transcription: Boku mo rāmen ga daisuki desu. Translation: I love ramen too.
Emphasis (sense of surprise)	surprising element + も	even X	チュンさんは難しい漢字もすらすら書ける。 Transcription: Chun san wa muzukashii kanji mo surasura kakeru. Translation: Chun can write even difficult kanji with ease.
Larger/smaller number than expected	number + counter + も	as much/many as… as little/few as…	１０万円もする。 Transcription: jūman en mo suru Translation: It costs as much as ¥100,000.
Approximation	approximate number + も	…or so	１万円もあれば泊まれる。 Transcription: Ichiman en mo areba tomareru. Translation: You can stay if you have ¥10,000 or so.
Emotions about change	changing element + も	hard to believe, wow, my!	弟も今日から社会人だ。 Transcription: Otōto mo kyō kara shakaijin da. Translation: Wow, my younger brother is going to be a working adult starting today.
“All” or “nothing” words	question word + も	no one, always, never, ...	だれも来なかった。 Transcription: Dare mo konakatta. Translation: No one came.
“All” or “nothing” words	question word + particle + も (in a negative sentence)	(to) nowhere, ...	どこへも行かなかった。 Transcription: Doko e mo ikanakatta. Translation: I didn’t go anywhere.