〜たりとも

Even (Emphatic)

Level 5Sounds Like taritomo

Used to express 'not even a single...' in highly formal or literary contexts. It emphasizes a strict standard or absolute denial by highlighting the smallest possible unit (one second, one yen, one person).

How It Works

〜たりとも is a high-level emphatic particle used to stress that even the tiniest amount or shortest duration is not permitted or possible.

1. Structure and Usage:
It almost exclusively follows the number 1 + a counter. Common pairings include:

  • 一日（いちにち）たりとも: Not even one day
  • 一秒（いちびょう）たりとも: Not even one second
  • 一円（いちえん）たりとも: Not even one yen
  • 一滴（いってき）たりとも: Not even one drop

2. The Idiom 何人（なんぴと）:
A unique exception is the phrase 何人（なんぴと/なんびと）たりとも, which means 'no person, regardless of who they are.' This is frequently seen in legal warnings or dramatic declarations.

3. Grammatical Requirements:
Because it emphasizes a minimum unit to deny something entirely, the sentence must end with a negative verb, a potential negative (〜できない), or a prohibitive form (〜するな).

4. Register:
This is a formal and literary expression. You will encounter it in novels, formal speeches, or historical dramas. Using it in daily conversation with friends would sound unnaturally stiff or like you are acting in a play.

Examples (4)

  1. 一円たりとも無駄にはできない。

    We cannot afford to waste even a single yen.

    Word by Word: One yen / even / waste / (topic) / cannot do.

    Uses 'one yen' as the absolute minimum unit to emphasize that no money at all should be wasted.

  2. 何人たりとも、この聖域に入ることは許されない。

    No one, regardless of who they are, is permitted to enter this sanctuary.

    Word by Word: What person / even / this / sanctuary / into / entering / (topic) / is not permitted.

    Uses the idiomatic 'nanpito' to express that absolutely no person is allowed entry.

  3. 試験が終わるまで、一秒たりとも油断するな。

    Do not let your guard down for even a single second until the exam is over.

    Word by Word: Exam / (subject) / end / until / one second / even / negligence / do not.

    Combines 'one second' with a prohibitive verb to stress constant vigilance.

  4. 彼は一日たりとも練習を休んだことがない。

    He has never skipped practice for even a single day.

    Word by Word: He / (topic) / one day / even / practice / (object) / rested / fact / does not exist.

    Emphasizes his extreme dedication by stating not even one day was missed.

Common Mistakes

  • Using numbers greater than one.

    二日たりとも休んではいけない。
    一日たりとも休んではいけない。

    The pattern is specifically designed to emphasize the absolute minimum unit (1). To say 'even two days,' use the standard particle 'も'.

  • Using the pattern in an affirmative sentence.

    一秒たりとも大切だ。
    一秒たりとも無駄にできない。

    〜たりとも requires a negative or prohibitive ending to complete the 'not even one' logic. For positive emphasis, use 'さえ' or 'も'.

How It Connects

Tap a pattern to see what it builds on and what it leads to.

〜たりともLevel 5Even (Emphatic)

Learn This First

〜たりとも is an advanced emphatic pattern used to express that 'even a single [minimal unit]' is not permitted or possible. It requires a solid understanding of the emphatic particle 'も', the use of counters/time units, and how to structure negative sentences to express absolute exclusion.

Words in This Pattern

たりとも