Grammar Info

N1 Lesson 5: 15/17

でもなんでもない

Not at all, By no means, Definitely not, Nothing like that, Not really

Structure

Noun + でもなんでもない
［な］Adjective + でもなんでもない

Details

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    Standard

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    一般

About でもなんでもない

でもなんでもない is a structure seen after nouns or な-Adjectives in Japanese to indicate that something is 'definitely not (A)', or 'not (A) at all'. This is a combination of the adverbial particle でも 'even', the adverb 何(なん)でも 'whatever' or 'anything at all', and the い-Adjective ない 'not'. Due to this, the literal translation of 'not even (A) or anything of the sort' reflects the desired nuance.
  • 俺(おれ)はファンでもなんでもないよ、ただあの人(ひと)が作曲(さっきょく)した曲(きょく)を聞(き)くのが好(す)きなだけ。
    I am not a fan by any means. I just like listening to the music he produces.
  • あっ、あの人(ひと)ですか？友達(ともだち)でもなんでもないですよ、なんかさっき急(きゅう)に話(はな)しかけてきたので話(はな)していただけです。
    Oh, that person? They are not my friend at all. They just came up to me and started talking to me so I was just talking to them.
  • 迷惑(めいわく)でもなんでもないですよ、ゆっくりしていってください。
    It's not bothersome at all. Please take your time.
  • 好(す)きでもなんでもない人(ひと)からそんなこと言(い)われても全然(ぜんぜん)嬉(うれ)しくない。
    I'm not at all happy to hear such a thing from someone I don't like or anything.
でもなんでもない may be used either positively or negatively. When being used positively, it often has the translation of '(A) is no big deal'.
Caution
Although not as common, some sources list the conjunctive form of い-Adjectives partnered with もなんでもない as another possibility.
  • あいつとは別(わか)れたけど、ひどい奴(やつ)だったから、悲(かな)しくもなんでもない。
    I broke up with him, but since he was such an awful person, I am not sad or anything.
  • これ重(おも)くもなんでもないじゃん。
    This isn't heavy at all.

Examples

  • AがBをいじめている、A：「ただの遊(あそ)びだ・・・」
    B：「遊(あそ)びでもなんでもないよ、ただの嫌(いや)がらせじゃないか。」

    A is teasing B, A: 'I'm just playing with you...'
    B: 'This is definitely not a game! Aren't you just harassing me?'

  • 友達(ともだち)との話(はなし)：A：「ごめんね、迷惑(めいわく)かけちゃったよね。」
    B：「ううん。別(べつ)に迷惑(めいわく)でもなんでもないよ。」

    Chat between friends, A: 'Sorry. I have caused you troubles.'
    B: 'Nah. There was no trouble at all.'

  • 研究室(けんきゅうしつ)に後輩(こうはい)が入(はい)る時(とき)：後輩(こうはい)：「お忙(いそが)しいところを、すみません。」
    先輩(せんぱい)：「いえ、仕事(しごと)でも何(なん)でもないです。ただの調(しら)べごとですよ。」

    Laboratory, junior enters, junior: 'I am sorry to bother you when you are busy.'
    Senior: 'No, I'm not really working at all. I'm just reading up on (articles, data).'

  • 「これは偶然(ぐうぜん)でもなんでもないんです、起(お)こるべくして起(お)こったんです。」

    'It is not a coincidence at all. It was sure to happen.'

  • AとBから離(はな)れた位置(いち)の人(ひと)について話(はな)す、 A：「あの人(ひと)、誰(だれ)？恋人(こいびと)？」
    B：「恋人(こいびと)でもなんでもない。ただの知(し)り合(あ)い。」

    A and B talk about a person some distance away, A: 'Who is that person? Girlfriend?'
    B: 'She is not my girlfriend at all. Just an acquaintance.'

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