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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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.

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

--:--

    「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.' (definitely not)

    好(す)きでもなんでもないクラスメイトと付(つ)き合(あ)っているという噂(うわさ)を流(なが)されてしまった。

    Unfortunately, a rumor that I was dating a classmate that I definitely do not like started going around.

    彼氏(かれし)が誕生日(たんじょうび)でもクリスマスでもなんでもないのにペアのネックレスをプレゼントしてくれました。

    Despite it not being anything like my birthday or Christmas, my boyfriend gave me a couple's necklace.

    「彼(かれ)は‎全然(ぜんぜん)天才(てんさい)でもなんでもない。人並(ひとな)み以上(いじょう)の努力(どりょく)をしているから、あれだけの結果(けっか)を残(のこ)せるんだ。」

    'He is not a genius by any means. He can achieve so much because he is putting in more work than anyone else.' (definitely not・not at all)

    結婚式(けっこんしき)の前日(ぜんじつ)に私(わたし)の婚約者(こんやくしゃ)と寝(ね)るなんて…あんなやつ、家族(かぞく)でもなんでもないわ。

    That they slept with my fiance on the day before the wedding… That person, they are not my family at all.

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