たりとも
🃏 Flashcard
たりとも
tari tomo
Tap to reveal usage
not even; not any ~
N1
Tap to test your recall · +10 XP
📊 Pattern Stats
JLPT Level
N1
Advanced · Literary, rhetorical & rare forms
Reading
tari tomo
Post ID
51372
Patterns today
0
0 / 10 daily goal
📝 Usage Notes
not even; not any ~
📖 How to use it
A formal, literary pattern meaning 'not even (one)' or 'not any', used to emphasize that even the smallest amount is not permitted or possible.
Attaches to
Attaches directly to a numeral, a counter (e.g., 一人, 一日), or a noun such as 一瞬, with no particle between. The noun or numeral must be in its bare form (e.g., 一人, 一日, 一秒).
たりとも is a stiff, written-style expression that appears almost exclusively in formal contexts like speeches, legal documents, or literary prose. It combines with a minimal quantity—usually 'one' of something—to assert that not even that smallest unit is allowed or possible. The phrase is always followed by a negative or a prohibitive statement, creating a forceful 'not even one' nuance. For example, 一人たりとも許さない means 'I won't forgive even one person.'
試験中、一問たりとも答えを写してはいけない。
Shikenchuu, ichimon tari tomo kotae o utsushite wa ikenai.
During the exam, you must not copy even a single answer.
この会社では、社員は一人たりとも不正に関わってはならない。
Kono kaisha de wa, shain wa hitori tari tomo fusei ni kakawatte wa naranai.
In this company, not even one employee may be involved in wrongdoing.
彼の話は一言たりとも信じられない。
Kare no hanashi wa hitokoto tari tomo shinjirarenai.
I cannot believe even a single word he says.
Not さえ (even) as in 一人さえいない
さえ can be used in both spoken and written Japanese and attaches to nouns/particles with a broader meaning. たりとも is strictly formal and pairs only with a number/counter, almost always followed by a negative clause.
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Highly formal, literary, and rarely used in conversation; appropriate for written statements, speeches, or serious pronouncements.
🎯 Quick Quiz
What does this grammar pattern mean or do?
たりとも
📚 How to Master This Pattern
Say It Aloud
Press Hear it and repeat たりとも three times. Feel the rhythm — grammar patterns have a natural flow.
Flip Before Reading
Always try to recall the usage before flipping the card. Struggle = learning. Every failed recall makes the next one stick harder.
Write Two Sentences
Compose two original sentences using たりとも. One about yourself, one about something you see right now.
Spaced Review
Save this pattern and revisit at 10 min, 1 day, 3 days. Production (writing) beats recognition for grammar.
🔗 More JLPT N1 Patterns
← Previous
たら〜ところだ
if... (counterfactual), then would be ~
Next →
たるもの / たる
(that) which is; in capacity of ... should
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
What does the grammar pattern たりとも mean?
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Not even; not any ~
What JLPT level is たりとも?
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Nihoner currently groups this pattern under JLPT N1 — Advanced · Literary, rhetorical & rare forms. Use the level label as study guidance rather than a prediction of what will appear on an exam.
How do you use たりとも in a sentence?
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Attach たりとも (tari tomo) to the appropriate verb or noun form as described in the usage notes. Then try writing two original sentences — one about yourself and one about something around you.
Is たりとも formal or casual Japanese?
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たりとも is used in formal or written contexts. You will see it mainly in written texts, news, business Japanese and academic contexts.
How can I remember たりとも long-term?
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Use the flashcard on this page for active recall — see the pattern, reconstruct the usage from memory, then flip. Follow with the 4-choice quiz to distinguish it from similar patterns. Review later the same day and again over the following days. Writing original sentences can help you practise using the pattern in context.