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Japanese particle も (mo) - also, too, even, a lot

Japanese ninja
In this article, I will explain the Japanese particle も (mo)! It is similar to "also" and "too"! It also has other meanings!
Kosuke
by Kosuke

What is the particle も (mo)

も - mo
も (mo) is a Japanese particle.We use も (mo) often in our daily life.It mainly means also or too.The way to use も (mo) is similar to the other particle は (wa).However, the meaning of も (mo) is completely different from は (wa).Below the main meanings of も (mo) are listed.
  • also, too
  • even
  • indicating "it's a lot"
Maybe, it is difficult to understand how you can use も (mo) only from an explanation.In this article, I will show you many sample sentences to help you to understand how to use the particle も (mo).

も (mo) usually means "also" and "too"

Basically, も (mo) means "also" and "too".も (mo) indicates "other things that are in the same situation".Let's check the example sentences!

Example sentences

Example 1

Kaguya Hime
Below is a sentence from the folktale Kaguya Hime>>
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If you want to check the vocabulary list, please push the "Show vocabulary list" button above.The sentence above is from a folktale Kaguya Hime.Kaguya Hime is a beautiful woman, and five noblemen tried to marry her.However, some of them lied in order to get married with her.The first man lied, and the second one also lied.When you want to indicate other people or things in the same situation as the one you are talking about, you should use も (mo), instead of は (wa).

Example 2

Orihime and Hikoboshi - Tanabata
Below is a sentence from the folktale Orihime and Hikoboshi - Tanabata>>
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In this story, a man named Hikoboshi and a woman named Orihime are in love.They cannot meet often, and Orihime is looking forward to meeting Hikoboshi.Hikoboshi is also looking forward to meeting her.The particle も (mo) is used in the sentence because Hikoboshi's feelings are similar to Orihime's.

Example 3

Tanokyu
Below is a sentence from the folktale Tanokyu>>
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In this story, a monster snake transformed into a big man.The snake thought that the man named Tanokyu could also transform.That is why the snake said "I am also transformed."Thus, the particle も (mo) is used in the sentence.

Example 4

Neko no Te
Below is a sentence from the folktale Neko no Te>>
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In the story, when it was the season to plant rice, the whole village became very busy.During that season, men went to the rice fields every day and planted rice.And women were also busy then as well.Not only women, but also men were busy.So も (mo) is used, instead of は (wa), in the sentence.

Example 5

Binbougami and Fukunokami - The God of Poverty and The God of WealthK: KanjiH: HiraganaR: RomajiE: English
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In this story, a man got married with a hardworking woman.Then he also started to work hard.Since he, and his wife both worked hard, the particle も (mo) is used in this sentence.

Example 6

Dorobo - The Thieves
Below is a sentence from the folktale Dorobo - The Thieves>>
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In this story, two thieves kill each other, and both of them die.So in the sentence above, も (mo) is used because not only did one thief die, but also the other thief dies as well.

Example 7

Drinking Sake with a Ghost
Below is a sentence from the folktale Drinking Sake with a Ghost>>
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In this story, a ghost offered alcohol to a man named Chubei.In return, he also offered alcohol to the ghost.That is why the particle も (mo) is used in this sentence.

Example 8

The Old Man with a Lump
Below is a sentence from the folktale The Old Man with a Lump>>
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In this story, there are two old men, and both of them have a lump on their cheek.Both of them are in the same situation.That's why the particle も (mo) is used instead of は (wa).

Example 9

The Three Charms
Below is a sentence from the folktale The Three Charms>>
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In this story, a witch chases after a child, and the child runs into a temple.After that, the witch also arrives at the temple.That is why も (mo) is used in this sentence.

Example 10

Ubasuteyama
Below is a sentence from the folktale Ubasuteyama>>
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In this story, a man decides to go to a mountain, and his child also goes with him.So も (mo) is used because both of them go to the mountain.

も (mo) sometimes means "even"

As I explained above, も (mo) mainly means also or too.However, も (mo) sometimes means even.In the case of this usage of も (mo), you can replace the も (mo) with すらも (su ra mo).

Example 11

The God of the Bathhouse
Below is a sentence from the folktale The God of the Bathhouse>>
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In this story, a man tries to destroy a statue without even wearing any clothes.So も (mo) means "even" in this case.You can replace も (mo) with すらも (su ra mo) in this case.
  • 彼は怒って、服すらも着ないまま、福の神の像を壊そうとしました。
  • かれ は おこっ て、ふく すら も き ない まま、ふくのかみ の ぞう を こわそ う と し まし た。
も (mo) is the same meaning as すらも (su ra mo) in the case of this usage.

Example 12

Kasa Jizo
Below is a sentence from the folktale Kasa Jizo>>
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In this story, the old man and woman are very poor, and they can't even buy a rice cake.The sentence has the same meaning as below:
  • ある年の大晦日、おじいさんとおばあさんは、お正月のお餅を買うためのお金すらもありませんでした。
  • ある とし の おおみそか、おじいさん と おばあさん は、おしょうがつ の おもち を かう ため の おかね すら も あり ませ ん でし た。

も (mo) sometimes indicates "it's a lot"

We sometimes use も (mo) when something is more than we thought.This usage of も (mo) indicates that the amount is a lot.

Example sentences

Example 13

The Old Man with a Lump
Below is a sentence from the folktale The Old Man with a Lump>>
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In this story, the old man gets two lumps on both his cheeks.Having one lump is already annoying.But he has two.So the speaker of this story thinks "It's a lot".We use も (mo) when we want to emphasize "the amount is a lot".By using も (mo), we can indicates something is a lot.

Example 14

Mukade - The Centipede
Below is a sentence from the folktale Mukade - The Centipede>>
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We only have two legs.100 legs are a lot.So the speaker want to emphasize that it is a lot.That is why the particle も (mo) is used in this sentence.

Conclusion

If you find the particle も (mo), it probably means one of the list below:
  • also, too
  • even
  • indicating "it's a lot"
I hope this article helps you to study Japanese!Thank you for reading!
Japanese ninja

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Author

Kosuke
I'm Kosuke Zaizen!
Thank you for visiting my website!I am a Japanese programmer named Kosuke Zaizen. I like to make web applications for Japanese learners. I know that learning Japanese can be difficult. I think the most important thing in learning a new language is to have fun and to continue. I would like you to enjoy studying Japanese by using my web application.I hope this website helps you to study Japanese!

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