Nothing, nobody

Stage 4Pointing, question & people wordsChunk 19 of 27 · items 449–451 of 484

Question word + mo + a negative verb = nothing, no one, nowhere.

Mix-ups

With a negative verb all three mean no-thing, no one, nowhere; when a particle is needed it goes before mo (dare ni mo, doko ni mo).

nanimo

+ negativedrama rank #185

nothing (with negative)

何も なにもPlay

With a negative verb means 'nothing, not anything' (nanimo nai, nanimo tabenakatta).

casualPlay

nanimo nai yo.

There's nothing.

何もないよ。

politePlay

nanimo arimasen yo.

There's nothing.

何もありませんよ。

The emphatic casual form is nan ni mo (nan ni mo nai).

Learn alongside: daremo, doko ni moLearn first: nani

daremo

+ negativedrama rank #401

nobody (with negative)

誰も だれもPlay

With a negative verb means 'no one' (daremo inai), and splits around a particle (dare ni mo iwanai = won't tell anyone).

casualPlay

daremo inai yo.

There's nobody here.

誰もいないよ。

politePlay

daremo imasen yo.

There's nobody here.

誰もいませんよ。

daremo ga + a positive verb means 'everyone' but sounds formal (daremo ga shitteru); casually say minna shitteru.

Learn alongside: nanimo, doko ni moLearn first: dare, nanimo

doko ni mo

+ negativedrama rank #1953*

nowhere (with negative)

どこにもPlay

With a negative verb means 'nowhere, not anywhere' (doko ni mo ikanai), keeping ni or de inside.

casualPlay

doko ni mo nai yo.

It isn't anywhere.

どこにもないよ。

politePlay

doko ni mo arimasen yo.

It isn't anywhere.

どこにもありませんよ。

dokomo with a positive verb means 'everywhere' (dokomo onaji); casually ni is often dropped with a negative too (dokomo itte nai = haven't been anywhere).

Learn alongside: nanimo, daremoLearn first: doko, nanimo