as many as; as much as; up to; nearly (も) – Japanese Grammar も (mo)

Q: What JLPT level is も?

JLPT N4 — Upper-Beginner · Forming complex sentences

Q: How do you use も in a sentence?

Attach も to the appropriate verb or noun form. As many as; as much as; up to; nearly

Q: Is も formal or casual Japanese?

も can be used in both casual conversation and polite speech depending on context.

も

N4 GRAMMAR ⏱ 0s study 📖 0 today

as many as; as much as; up to; nearly

ていた te ita 全然～ない zenzen~nai みたいだ mitai da ぜひ zehi でございます de gozaimasu がする ga suru とか～とか toka~toka みたいに mitai ni または matawa し shi なければならない nakereba naranai そうに・そうな sou ni / sou na てすみません te sumimasen それでも sore demo てあげる te ageru 頃 koro / goro やすい yasui ながら nagara させられる saserareru かい kai ていた te ita 全然～ない zenzen~nai みたいだ mitai da ぜひ zehi でございます de gozaimasu がする ga suru とか～とか toka~toka みたいに mitai ni または matawa し shi なければならない nakereba naranai そうに・そうな sou ni / sou na てすみません te sumimasen それでも sore demo てあげる te ageru 頃 koro / goro やすい yasui ながら nagara させられる saserareru かい kai

🃏 Flashcard

も

Tap to reveal usage

as many as; as much as; up to; nearly

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📊 Pattern Stats

JLPT Level N4

Upper-Beginner · Forming complex sentences

Reading mo

Post ID 50728

Patterns today 0

0 / 10 daily goal

📝 Usage Notes

as many as; as much as; up to; nearly

📖 How to use it

The particle も, when placed after a quantity expression, emphasizes that the number or amount is surprisingly large, meaning 'as many as' or 'up to'.

Attaches to Attach to a noun or numeral phrase that expresses a quantity, such as 百人, 三時間, 十回, etc. It follows the quantity directly.

This も is used to show that a number or amount is bigger than the speaker expected or wants to emphasize. It often carries a nuance of surprise, admiration, or even criticism. For example, if you say 三時間も待った, it means you waited three whole hours—that's a long time. The sentence structure is the same as the 'also' も, but the meaning is different, and the context makes it clear which is intended. Note that this も is used with concrete quantities, not with general amounts like たくさん. It is common in both speaking and writing, but in casual conversation, the intonation often emphasizes the も.

昨日は百人も来ました。

Kinō wa hyaku-nin mo kimashita.

As many as a hundred people came yesterday.

この本は三千円もしたよ。

Kono hon wa sanzen-en mo shita yo.

This book cost as much as three thousand yen.

彼女は五時間も勉強しました。

Kanojo wa go-jikan mo benkyō shimashita.

She studied for as long as five hours.

Not The other も meaning 'too; also' The 'also' も attaches to any noun or phrase, not just quantities, and does not emphasize size. For example, 私も行く means 'I will go too'. When a quantity is used with the 'also' も, it requires a contrastive context to mean 'also that many' (e.g., 三人も来た could mean 'three people also came' if it is already established that another group of three came), but without such context it naturally takes the 'as many as' reading.

🎯 Quick Quiz

What does this grammar pattern mean or do?

も

📚 How to Master This Pattern

🔊

Say It Aloud

Press Hear it and repeat 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 も. One about yourself, one about something you see right now.

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Spaced Review

Save this pattern and revisit at 10 min, 1 day, 3 days. Production (writing) beats recognition for grammar.

🔗 More JLPT N4 Patterns

don’t ~ (order somebody to not do ~)

❓ Frequently Asked Questions

What does the grammar pattern も mean? ▼

As many as; as much as; up to; nearly

What JLPT level is も? ▼

Nihoner currently groups this pattern under JLPT N4 — Upper-Beginner · Forming complex sentences. Use the level label as study guidance rather than a prediction of what will appear on an exam.

How do you use も in a sentence? ▼

Attach も (mo) 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 も formal or casual Japanese? ▼

も is used in both casual and polite contexts. It appears frequently in everyday conversation, textbooks, and simple written materials.

How can I remember も long-term? ▼

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.