Meaning & Usage
โจ Basic Meaning
ใ (mo) is a particle that adds a sense of inclusion, addition, or emphasis to the word or phrase it follows.
๐ฏ Primary Function
It functions primarily to indicate that something else is true or applies in the same way, or to emphasize the degree of something.
๐ Grammar Structure
Noun + ใ
Question word (ใ ใ, ใฉใ, ใใค etc.) + ใ (often in negative sentences for “neither/nor” or positive for “even”)
Quantity + Counter + ใ (for emphasis)
๐ญ Usage Contexts
Formal Situations
Used in formal situations without issues. It does not affect the politeness level of the sentence itself.
Informal Situations
Very commonly used in informal speech.
Written Language
Frequently used in written language across various styles.
Spoken Language
Essential and very common in spoken Japanese.
๐ก Common Applications
Indicating “Also / Too”
Used after nouns, pronouns, or phrases to indicate that the preceding item shares the same quality, action, or state as something previously mentioned or understood.
Example: ็งใๆฅๆฌ่ชใๅๅผทใใพใใ (Watashi mo Nihongo o benkyou shimasu.) – I also study Japanese.
Indicating “Neither / Nor” (with negative verbs)
Used in conjunction with a negative verb form to indicate that *neither* the preceding item *nor* something else is true or happening.
Example: ใณใผใใผใ็ด
่ถใ้ฃฒใฟใพใใใ (Koohii mo koucha mo nomimasen.) – I drink neither coffee nor tea.
Indicating “Even”
Used after nouns or question words (like ใใค, ใฉใ, ใ ใ) to emphasize that something is true *even* in an extreme or unexpected case.
Example: ๅญไพใงใๅใใใพใใ (Kodomo demo wakarimasu.) – Even a child can understand it.
Frequency
Very frequent and essential particle in daily Japanese.
Difficulty
N4 (Introduced earlier, but its nuances and various uses are solidified at N4).
Example Sentences
ใใใฏ็งใฎๆฌใงใใใใใ็งใฎๆฌใงใใ
This is my book. That is also my book.
็ฐไธญใใใๆฅใพใใ๏ผ
Is Tanaka-san also coming?
ไฝใ้ฃในใใใชใใ
I don’t want to eat anything (literally: I don’t want to eat even one thing).
Notes & Nuances
๐ Important Points
Replacing particles
ใ (mo) often replaces other particles like ใ (ga), ใ (o), ใฏ (wa) when it follows the noun that would normally take that particle. However, it often comes *after* particles like ใซ (ni), ใธ (e), ใจ (to), ใใ (kara), ใพใง (made).
Example: ใ -> ็ฐไธญใใใๆฅใพใใ (Tanaka-san mo kimasu.) – Tanaka-san also comes. (Replaces ใ in ็ฐไธญใใใๆฅใพใ) ใซ -> ๅ้ใซใไผใใพใใใ(Tomodachi ni mo aimashita.) – I also met a friend. (Follows ใซ)
Used with question words in negative sentences
When ใ is used with a question word (like ใ ใ, ใฉใ, ใชใซ, ใใค) in a negative sentence, it means “no one,” “nowhere,” “nothing,” “never,” etc.
Example: ่ชฐใซใไผใใพใใใงใใใ(Dare ni mo aimasen deshita.) – I didn’t meet anyone.
โ ๏ธ Common Mistakes
โ Using ใ together with the particle it replaces (ใ, ใ, ใฏ)
โ
Remove the particle ใ, ใ, or ใฏ when ใ follows the noun.
ใ replaces these particles to indicate addition or inclusion.
โ Not using ใ after certain particles like ใซ, ใธ, ใจ
โ
Place ใ after particles like ใซ, ใธ, ใจ, ใใ, ใพใง.
ใ adds its meaning *after* these particles modify the noun.
๐๏ธ Cultural Context
Politeness Level: Neutral. It does not affect the politeness level of the sentence structure or verb conjugation.
Social Situations: Used universally in all social situations.
Regional Variations: None for this basic particle usage.
๐ Subtle Differences
ใ vs ใจ
ใ means “also” or “too” (adding to an existing set/statement). ใจ means “and” (connecting items in a list).
When to use: Use ใ when saying “X *also* Y” or “X *too*”. Use ใจ when listing items “A and B”.
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๐ Conjugation Notes
ใ is a particle, so it does not conjugate. It attaches directly to nouns or sometimes follows other particles/verb forms.
๐ Pronunciation Tips
Pronounced simply as “mo” [moฬ].
๐ง Memory Tips
Think of ใ as meaning “more” of something applies or is included.
Practice Exercises
Choose the correct particle: ็ฐไธญใใใฏๅญฆ็ใงใใ็งใๅญฆ็๏ผฟ๏ผฟ๏ผฟใ
ใ
ใ
ใ
ใฏ
Fill in the blank: ใฉใ๏ผฟ๏ผฟ๏ผฟ่กใใพใใใงใใใ
ใ
ใ
ใซ
ใธใ
Iโm a software engineer based in Japan, with experience in developing web and mobile applications. Iโm passionate about technology, especially in DevOps, AI, and app development using platforms like AWS, Flutter, and Node.js. My goal is to build a website that shares knowledge about the Japanese language and IT, helping everyone learn and grow more easily in the digital era.
