目錄
Japanese 「interrogative word + でも」 is used when the range is not restricted. Forms such as 「何でも」「誰でも」「いつでも」「どこでも」「どれでも」 all carry the idea that no particular option is singled out. 「何でも食べます」 means there is no special restriction on the type of food, 「誰でも参加できます」 means participation is not limited to specific people, and 「いつでも大丈夫です」 means any time is fine.
What makes this tricky is that Chinese translations often use the same word 「都」, but in Japanese you cannot simply use 「でも」 whenever the Chinese translation contains 「都」. 「何でも食べます」 means “I eat anything,” while 「何も食べません」 means “I don’t eat anything.” 「誰でも参加できます」 means “Anyone can participate,” whereas 「誰か来ました」 simply means that someone came, without specifying who. Even with the same interrogative word, the scope changes completely depending on whether it is followed by 「でも」「も」 or 「か」.
There are also a few small points that are easy to memorize incorrectly. 「何でも」 is read 「なんでも」, not 「なにでも」. 「いつでも」 means “any time” or “whenever,” while 「いつも」 usually describes something that is always or habitually the case. This article starts with 「何でも」「誰でも」「いつでも」, then compares 「interrogative word + でも」「interrogative word + か」「interrogative word + も」 together, and finally looks at how 「どれでも」「どこでも」 appear in everyday and travel situations.
How Do You Use Japanese 「Interrogative Word + でも」? It Means “Any ～ Is Fine”
「Interrogative word + でも」 includes all the options covered by the interrogative word within the range. 「何」 becomes 「何でも」, meaning that anything is acceptable; 「誰でも」 means anyone is acceptable; and 「いつでも」 means any time is acceptable. Memorizing 「でも」 simply as the Chinese word 「都」 makes mistakes more likely. In actual sentences, the key is to check whether the meaning is “there is no particular restriction.”
| Interrogative Word | Form | Common Meaning |
| 何 | 何でも（なんでも） | anything / whatever |
| 誰 | 誰でも（だれでも） | anyone / whoever |
| いつ | いつでも | anytime / whenever |
| どこ | どこでも | anywhere / wherever |
| どれ | どれでも | any one / whichever |
How to Use 「何でも」｜No Restriction on Things, Matters, or Options
「何でも」 means that anything is acceptable, and it is read 「なんでも」. It is commonly used when talking about food, answering questions about preferences, or letting someone choose freely. If you only mean “some unspecified thing,” you use 「何か」 instead.
- Example: 何でも食べられます。
Kana: なんでもたべられます。
Translation: I can eat anything.
This means there is no particular restriction on the type of food. - Example: 分からないことがあったら、何でも聞いてください。
Kana: わからないことがあったら、なんでもきいてください。
Translation: If there’s anything you don’t understand, feel free to ask me anything.
The range of things you can ask about is not specifically limited. - Example: 何でもいいです。
Kana: なんでもいいです。
Translation: Anything is fine.
This is commonly used when you do not have a particular preference among the options.
How to Use 「誰でも」｜No Particular Restriction on People
「誰でも」 means “anyone” or “whoever,” and is often used when talking about eligibility to participate, ability, or the intended users of a service. For example, 「誰でも参加できます」 means that participation is not restricted to specific people.
- Example: このイベントは誰でも参加できます。
Kana: このイベントはだれでもさんかできます。
Translation: Anyone can participate in this event.
This means there are no particular identity-based restrictions on participants. - Example: このアプリは誰でも使えます。
Kana: このアプリはだれでもつかえます。
Translation: Anyone can use this app.
This means the app is not limited to a particular type of user. - Example: 誰でも最初は緊張します。
Kana: だれでもさいしょはきんちょうします。
Translation: Everyone gets nervous at first.
This refers generally to something that can happen to anyone.
How to Use 「いつでも」｜No Time Restriction: Anytime Is Fine
「いつでも」 means “anytime” or “whenever,” and is often used with expressions such as 「来てください」「連絡してください」「大丈夫です」. It indicates that the time can be chosen freely; it does not describe the habitual frequency of “always doing something.”
- Example: 困ったら、いつでも相談してください。
Kana: こまったら、いつでもそうだんしてください。
Translation: If you have a problem, you can talk to me anytime.
This means there is no particular restriction on when you can talk. - Example: いつでも来てください。
Kana: いつでもきてください。
Translation: Come anytime.
This expresses openness and permission with regard to time. - Example: いつでも連絡してください。
Kana: いつでもれんらくしてください。
Translation: Contact me anytime.
This is commonly used when the other person is free to choose when to get in touch.
What Is the Difference Between Japanese 「Interrogative Word + でも／か／も」? Three Ways of Defining Scope
The biggest difference among 「interrogative word + でも」「interrogative word + か」 and 「interrogative word + も」 lies in how the speaker treats the range covered by the interrogative word. 「Interrogative word + か」 indicates that there is some member of the range, but which one is not specified. 「Interrogative word + でも」 does not single out any one option; any member of the range can satisfy the statement. The 「interrogative word + も」 discussed here refers specifically to 「interrogative word + も + negative」, which negates the entire range. The Japan Foundation likewise presents these as three beginner-level patterns: 「interrogative word + か」「interrogative word + でも … affirmative」 and 「interrogative word + も … negative」.
| Form | How the Range Is Viewed | Common Meaning | Basic Usage | Examples |
| Interrogative word + か | There is some member of the range, but it is not specified which one | someone, something, somewhere, sometime | Refers to an unspecified person, thing, time, or place | 何か、誰か、どこか、いつか |
| Interrogative word + でも | No particular member is selected; any member within the range can qualify | any ～, no matter which ～, whichever is fine | At the beginner level, most commonly used with affirmative content | 何でも、誰でも、どこでも、いつでも、どれでも |
| Interrogative word + も + negative | No member of the range qualifies | nothing, nobody, nowhere | Negates the entire range with a negative sentence | 何も～ない、誰も～ない、どこも～ない |
Using 「何」 as an example, you can first think of them as 「何か = some thing」「何でも = anything is fine」「何も + negative = nothing」. However, this is only a beginner-friendly way to understand the patterns. It does not mean that every 「interrogative word + も」 must always be followed by a negative form. For example, 「どれもおいしい」 can mean “They’re all delicious,” so in actual reading you still need to look at the predicate that follows.
▌「Interrogative Word + でも」 vs 「Interrogative Word + か」｜Any One Is Fine vs One Exists but Is Unspecified
The key idea behind 「interrogative word + か」 is “there is one, but I don’t know which one or I’m not saying which one.” For example, 「何か食べたいです」 means that you want to eat something, but you have not specified exactly what. 「誰か来ました」 likewise only tells us that someone came, without saying who. The Japan Foundation explains this type of usage as referring to an unspecified object, time, or place.
By contrast, 「interrogative word + でも」 opens up the range of choices, so there is no need to select one particular member. 「何でも食べられます」 does not mean “there is some thing I can eat”; it means there is no particular restriction on the type of food. 「誰でも参加できます」 likewise does not mean that one unspecified person can participate. It means that anyone who meets the other conditions stated in the sentence can participate.
- Example: 何か食べたいです。
Kana: なにかたべたいです。
Translation: I want to eat something.
Here, 「何か」 means that there is some thing you want to eat, but you have not specified exactly what kind of food. The point is “one unspecified thing,” not that every kind of food is acceptable. - Example: 何でも食べられます。
Kana: なんでもたべられます。
Translation: I can eat anything.
「何でも」 does not restrict food to one particular type. It means that, generally speaking, any food within the range of choices is acceptable. Compared with 「何か」, the difference is not whether you know the name of the food, but whether the range of choices is restricted to one object.
▌「Interrogative Word + でも」 vs 「Interrogative Word + も」｜The Entire Range Applies vs None of the Range Applies
The 「interrogative word + も」 being compared here refers to 「interrogative word + も + negative」. 「何でも食べます」 includes the entire range of foods and means “I eat anything,” while 「何も食べません」 negates that same range and means “I don’t eat anything.” The Japan Foundation likewise explains 「interrogative word + も … negative」 as a way to completely negate the range of objects, times, places, and so on. (teaching-material site)
Because of this, 「誰でもできます」 and 「誰もできません」 differ only by the presence of 「で」 and by whether the ending is affirmative or negative, yet their meanings point in completely opposite directions. The former excludes no one, while the latter means that no one within the range qualifies. This is also where pairs such as 「何でも／何も」「誰でも／誰も」「どこでも／どこも」 are especially easy to misread.
- Example: 誰でもこの問題に答えられます。
Kana: だれでもこのもんだいにこたえられます。
Translation: Anyone can answer this question.
「誰でも」 means that the range of people is not particularly restricted, so anyone within that range can satisfy the statement. In other words, the question is not so difficult that only certain people can answer it. - Example: 誰もこの問題に答えられません。
Kana: だれもこのもんだいにこたえられません。
Translation: No one can answer this question.
「誰も」 is followed by the negative 「答えられません」, so the entire range of people is negated. This does not mean “I don’t know who can answer”; it means there is not a single person who can answer.
▌「Interrogative Word + か」 vs 「Interrogative Word + も」｜At Least One Exists vs None at All
When 「interrogative word + か」 and 「interrogative word + も + negative」 are placed side by side, the difference can be seen directly in whether there is anyone or anything within the range that satisfies the condition. 「誰かいます」 means that at least one person is there, but does not say who. 「誰もいません」 means that there is not a single person there. The Japan Foundation’s teaching materials also present this contrast directly with 「だれかいますか」 and 「だれもいません」.
- Example: 教室に誰かいます。
Kana: きょうしつにだれかいます。
Translation: Someone is in the classroom.
「誰か」 means that one or more people are definitely in the classroom, but their identities are not specified. This sentence therefore cannot be understood as meaning “anyone is in the classroom.” - Example: 教室に誰もいません。
Kana: きょうしつにだれもいません。
Translation: No one is in the classroom.
「誰も」 combines with the negative 「いません」 to exclude the entire range of people. Compared with the previous sentence, the issue is not that the person’s identity is unknown; it is that nobody in the classroom satisfies 「いる」.
▌In the Same Party Scenario, What Is the Difference Between 「誰か／誰でも／誰も」?
If all three forms are placed into the same “party” scenario, the distinction becomes even clearer. 「誰か」 simply says that there is some person, without specifying who. 「誰でも」 says that participation is not restricted to particular people. 「誰も + negative」 says that, in the end, nobody showed up. All three sentences can refer to the same party, but they focus on completely different things.
- Example: パーティーに誰か来ます。
Kana: ぱーてぃーにだれかきます。
Translation: Someone will come to the party.
We know that someone will come, but we do not know who. What remains uncertain with 「誰か」 is the person’s identity. - Example: このパーティーは誰でも参加できます。
Kana: このぱーてぃーはだれでもさんかできます。
Translation: Anyone can participate in this party.
This sentence is not predicting who will actually attend. It is describing the fact that participation is not restricted to specific people. 「誰でも」 is about “who is eligible to fall within this range.” - Example: パーティーに誰も来ませんでした。
Kana: ぱーてぃーにだれもきませんでした。
Translation: Nobody came to the party.
This sentence describes the actual final result: none of the people who could have come appeared. 「誰も + negative」 negates the entire range of people.
So the three can be summarized simply as follows: 「誰か」 means there is someone, but we don’t know who; 「誰でも」 means it can be anyone; and 「誰も + negative」 means not a single person qualifies. Rather than memorizing them only as “someone / anyone / nobody,” it is easier to distinguish them by looking at how the speaker defines the range.
What Is the Difference Between 「いつでも」 and 「いつも」? One Means “Anytime,” the Other “Always”
「いつでも」 and 「いつも」 can both end up translated into Chinese with words such as 「都」 or 「任何時候」, but they are not looking at the same thing. 「いつでも」 belongs to the 「interrogative word + でも」 pattern and means that the time is not particularly restricted—in other words, “any time is fine.” 「いつも」, by contrast, normally functions as an adverb of frequency and describes something that happens repeatedly as a regular occurrence, meaning “always” or “usually.” The Japan Foundation also specifically classifies 「いつも」 as a frequency adverb rather than treating it as part of the general 「interrogative word + も … negative」 pattern.
| Comparison | いつでも | いつも |
| Basic Meaning | anytime, any time is fine | always, usually |
| Main Focus | Whether the time is restricted | How frequently something happens |
| Concept of Time | Any point among multiple possible times can be chosen | The same thing happens repeatedly |
| Common Nuance | Open timing, no particular time specified | Habit, regular pattern, something that is usually the case |
| Common Translation | anytime, whenever, any time is fine | always, continually, usually |
| Common Combinations | いつでも来てください、いつでも連絡してください、いつでも大丈夫です | いつも来ます、いつも忙しいです、いつもありがとうございます |
| Example | 困ったら、いつでも相談してください。 | 毎朝、いつもこの店でコーヒーを飲みます。 |
| What the Sentence Answers | “When is okay?” | “Is this usually what happens?” |
▌「いつでも」 vs 「いつも」｜Any Time Is Fine vs This Is Usually the Case
The 「でも」 in 「いつでも」 follows the same logic as in 「何でも」 and 「誰でも」; only the range changes to time. 「いつでも来てください」 does not mean that someone comes every day. It means there is no particular restriction on when they can come: today, tomorrow, or any other convenient time is fine. The Japan Foundation’s materials on 「interrogative word + でも」 also use 「いつでも聞いてください」 to express that questions may be asked at any time.
「いつも」, on the other hand, is not about whether the time can be chosen freely. It describes how frequently an action or state normally occurs. 「いつも7時に起きます」 describes a regular habit, while 「あの店はいつも混んでいます」 means that the shop is usually crowded. In that sense, 「いつでも」 opens up the available time options, while 「いつも」 looks back at a situation that repeatedly occurs.
- Example: 困ったら、いつでも連絡してください。
Kana: こまったら、いつでもれんらくしてください。
Translation: If you run into trouble, contact me anytime.
「いつでも」 does not mean that contacting someone happens frequently. It means there is no particular restriction on when contact can be made. Morning, afternoon, or any other suitable time is fine. The point is “anytime is okay.” - Example: 田中さんはいつも連絡してくれます。
Kana: たなかさんはいつもれんらくしてくれます。
Translation: Tanaka always gets in touch.
「いつも」 describes Tanaka repeatedly doing the action of contacting someone, with the sense that this is something Tanaka regularly does. There is no nuance here of “any time is okay”; the sentence is describing actual frequency.
▌Both Use 「来る」: What Is the Difference Between 「いつでも来て」 and 「いつも来て」?
If the verb is fixed as 「来る」, the difference becomes very clear. 「いつでも来てください」 gives the other person freedom regarding time and does not require a particular date. 「いつも来てくれます」 describes the fact that the person usually comes. The former is about “which times are okay for coming,” while the latter is about “how frequently the act of coming happens.”
- Example: 時間があるときは、いつでも来てください。
Kana: じかんがあるときは、いつでもきてください。
Translation: If you have time, come anytime.
This sentence does not require the person to come on a fixed weekday or at a fixed hour. As long as it is convenient, any time is acceptable. 「いつでも」 relaxes the time restriction. - Example: 山田さんは週末になると、いつもこの店に来ます。
Kana: やまださんはしゅうまつになると、いつもこのみせにきます。
Translation: Yamada always comes to this shop on weekends.
This sentence describes Yamada’s repeated habit of coming. The point is not that “Yamada can come at any time,” but that observations show the same action often occurring whenever the weekend arrives.
The same distinction applies in a shop context. 「この店はいつでも入れます」 means there is no particular restriction on when you can enter the shop, whereas 「この店はいつも混んでいます」 means the shop is usually crowded. One answers “When can I go in?”, while the other describes “What is it usually like?” For that reason, 「いつも」 should not be understood as simply 「いつでも」 with 「で」 removed.
Useful Japanese for Travel in Japan: 「Interrogative Word + でも」 for “Anytime” and “Any One”
When traveling in Japan, 「interrogative word + でも」 often appears when arranging plans, choosing products, ordering food, or checking options with a staff member. 「いつでも」 means that the time is not particularly restricted, close to “anytime is fine” or “whenever is okay.” 「どれでも」 is used when several options are visible and means that any one of them can be chosen. Both expressions share the idea of “not specifying one particular option,” but 「いつでも」 opens up the range of times, whereas 「どれでも」 opens up the range of objects or choices. If you hear someone say 「いつでも大丈夫です」 or 「どれでも選べます」 while traveling, they are usually telling you that there is no specific restriction on the time or option. If you answer 「いつでもいいです」 or 「どれでもいいです」 yourself, you are saying that you have no particular preference about the time or choice.
▌Situation ①｜Deciding When to Visit an Attraction
A：動物園はいつ行きましょうか？
どうぶつえんはいついきましょうか？
When should we go to the zoo?
B：いつでもいいです。
いつでもいいです。
Anytime is fine.
📌 Grammar Point: 「いつ」 originally asks “when,” but once 「でも」 is added, it becomes “any time is fine.” 「いつでもいいです」 does not provide a specific date; it indicates that there is no particular preference regarding time, so the other person can decide based on the schedule. If several candidate dates are already being discussed, the sentence can also mean “any of those times is fine.” This usage is common when arranging sightseeing plans, meeting times, or reservations while traveling.
▌Situation ②｜Choosing a Rice Ball at a Convenience Store
A：おにぎりは、昆布、たらこ、梅があります。どれにしますか？
おにぎりは、こんぶ、たらこ、うめがあります。どれにしますか？
We have kombu, cod roe, and pickled plum rice balls. Which one would you like?
B：どれでもいいです。
どれでもいいです。
Any one is fine.
📌 Grammar Point: 「どれ」 asks “which one?” from among several objects, while 「どれでも」 means that no particular choice within the listed options is required. 「どれでもいいです」 is commonly used when you have no particular preference and is equivalent to “Any one is fine.” However, the nuance can vary depending on the situation when speaking with a shop employee or travel companion. If someone has gone out of their way to ask about your preference, simply saying 「どれでもいいです」 can sometimes sound like “Anything is fine; I don’t really have an opinion.” If you want to soften the response slightly, you can say 「どれでも大丈夫です」, which conveys that all of the available options are acceptable.
▌Situation ③｜Checking Whether Any Souvenir Can Be Chosen
A：この中から一つ選べます。
このなかからひとつえらべます。
You can choose one from these.
B：どれでも選べますか？
どれでもえらべますか？
Can I choose any one of them?
A：はい、どれでも大丈夫です。
はい、どれでもだいじょうぶです。
Yes, any one is fine.
📌 Grammar Point: 「どれでも」 does not appear only in 「どれでもいいです」. It can also combine directly with a verb. For example, 「どれでも選べます」 means “You can choose any one.” This kind of expression is useful in shops, souvenir counters, prize giveaways, or restaurants where you choose the contents of a set menu. If a staff member says 「この中から一つ選べます」 but does not explain whether every item is eligible, you can ask 「どれでも選べますか？」 to confirm the range. The question here is not “Which one should I choose?” but “Are all of these options included in the available selection?”
Usage Notes:
- 「いつでも」 means “anytime,” not “always.” 「いつでも来てください」 means there is no restriction on when to come, while 「いつも来ます」 means that someone regularly comes. When you see 「いつでも」 in information from a hotel, shop, or event while traveling, check the surrounding context to see whether it refers to reservations, contact, entry, or collection times. It will usually relate to the idea that “any time can be chosen.”
- 「どれでも」 requires a range of available choices. 「この中からどれでも選べます」 means you may choose any one from the options in front of you. If there is no context and no set of candidate items, using 「どれでも」 by itself leaves out the important context of “which one among what?” When there are only two options, Japanese also commonly uses 「どちらでも」, as in 「AとB、どちらでも大丈夫です」.
- Both 「いつでもいいです」 and 「どれでもいいです」 can mean “anything is fine,” but their actual nuance is closer to “I don’t have a particular preference.” If you genuinely have no preference, these are natural answers. However, if the other person is seriously asking for your opinion, repeatedly answering with 「～でもいいです」 can sometimes sound passive. While traveling, if you want to say that “all of the options are fine” rather than “whatever,” you can use 「いつでも大丈夫です」 or 「どれでも大丈夫です」 depending on the situation, which sounds slightly softer.
How Does Japanese 「Interrogative Word + でも」 Compare with Korean 「뭐든지・누구나・언제든지」?
Japanese 「interrogative word + でも」 indicates that no particular member of a range is singled out. 「何でも」 means anything is acceptable, 「誰でも」 means anyone is acceptable, and 「いつでも」 means any time is acceptable. Korean has very similar expressions, but unlike Japanese, they are not all formed with one single unified pattern. 「何でも」 commonly corresponds to 「뭐든지／무엇이든지」, 「誰でも」 can correspond to 「누구나」 or 「누구든지」 depending on the sentence, and 「いつでも」 commonly corresponds to 「언제든지」. Because 「-든지」 itself carries the idea that “it makes no difference which option is chosen,” forms such as 「뭐든지、누구든지、언제든지、어디든지」 are easy to understand alongside Japanese 「何でも、誰でも、いつでも、どこでも」. Although Korean 「누구나」 is formed differently, it also often corresponds to Japanese 「誰でも」 when the meaning is “not limited to a particular person; anyone can…”.
◆ Similar Grammar: 「뭐든지」
Korean 「뭐든지」 means that things, matters, or options are not particularly restricted, and is close to “anything” or “whatever,” making it very similar to Japanese 「何でも」. 「뭐」 is the conversational form of 「무어」, so 「뭐든지」 is common in everyday speech; the full form 「무엇이든지」 also appears. It is not limited to food or concrete objects. It can also be used with verbs such as 「하다、말하다、물어보다」 to express “do anything / say anything / ask anything.” The National Institute of Korean Language’s Basic Korean Dictionary also includes usages such as 「뭐든지 하다」.
- Example: 저는 음식은 뭐든지 잘 먹어요.
Romanization: jeo-neun eum-sik-eun mwo-deun-ji jal meo-geo-yo.
Translation: As for food, I can eat pretty much anything.
Here, 「뭐든지」 means that there is no particular restriction on the type of food, and it is very close to Japanese 「何でも食べます／何でも食べられます」. It does not mean “I want to eat some particular thing”; rather, most things within the category of food are acceptable. - Example: 궁금한 게 있으면 뭐든지 물어보세요.
Romanization: gung-geum-han ge i-sseu-myeon mwo-deun-ji mu-reo-bo-se-yo.
Translation: If there’s anything you’re curious about, ask me anything.
Here, 「뭐든지」 does not refer to a physical object but to questions or topics. Japanese can likewise say 「分からないことがあったら、何でも聞いてください」, and both sentences indicate that there is no restriction on what can be asked. - Example: 필요한 게 있으면 뭐든지 말해 주세요.
Romanization: pil-yo-han ge i-sseu-myeon mwo-deun-ji mal-hae ju-se-yo.
Translation: If you need anything, please tell me.
This sentence includes all possible requests within the range of 「뭐든지」 and is close to “If you need anything, just say so.” In the same situation, Japanese could use 「必要なことがあったら、何でも言ってください」.
◆ Similar Grammar: 「누구나」
Korean 「누구나」 indicates that no particular person is singled out and means something like “anyone” or “everyone.” In many situations, it corresponds directly to Japanese 「誰でも」. It is especially common when describing general rules, eligibility, ability, or universal situations, such as “Anyone can participate” or “Anyone can make mistakes.” However, Japanese 「誰でも」 has a somewhat broader range of uses than 「누구나」. If the meaning is “it does not matter whom you choose” or “any person is fine,” Korean often uses 「누구든지／누구든」 instead. Official dictionaries likewise list both 「누구나」 and 「누구든지」 among forms used to refer to unspecified people.
- Example: 이 행사는 누구나 참여할 수 있어요.
Romanization: i haeng-sa-neun nu-gu-na cham-yeo-hal su i-sseo-yo.
Translation: Anyone can participate in this event.
Here, 「누구나」 means that eligibility to participate is not restricted to a particular group, and it corresponds almost directly to Japanese 「このイベントは誰でも参加できます」. The point is that “participation is open to anyone.” - Example: 누구나 실수할 수 있어요.
Romanization: nu-gu-na sil-su-hal su i-sseo-yo.
Translation: Anyone can make mistakes.
This is not about choosing one person from several people. It describes a general situation: “No matter who the person is, they may make a mistake.” Japanese 「誰でも間違えることがあります」 works in the same way, so 「누구나」 is especially suitable for this kind of general statement. - Example: 이 앱은 누구나 쉽게 사용할 수 있어요.
Romanization: i ae-beun nu-gu-na swip-ge sa-yong-hal su i-sseo-yo.
Translation: Anyone can use this app easily.
「누구나」 includes the entire range of users and means that use is not restricted to people of a particular status or group. The nuance is very close to Japanese 「このアプリは誰でも簡単に使えます」.
◆ Similar Grammar: 「언제든지」
Korean 「언제든지」 means that there is no particular restriction on time—“anytime” or “whenever”—and is very close to Japanese 「いつでも」. 「언제」 originally means “when,” and when it combines with 「든지」, which indicates that it makes no difference which option is chosen, it comes to mean “no matter which time.” Korean also commonly shortens it to 「언제든」, as in 「언제든 전화해」, meaning “Call me anytime.” An example under 「든」 in the official dictionary likewise gives 「내 도움이 필요하면 언제든 전화해」, meaning that the person can call at any time if help is needed.
- Example: 도움이 필요하면 언제든지 연락하세요.
Romanization: do-um-i pil-yo-ha-myeon eon-je-deun-ji yeol-lak-ha-se-yo.
Translation: If you need help, contact me anytime.
「언제든지」 means that there is no particular restriction on when contact can be made, and it is very close to Japanese 「困ったら、いつでも連絡してください」. The point here is “you may contact me at any time,” not that contact happens frequently. - Example: 시간 괜찮을 때 언제든지 오세요.
Romanization: si-gan gwaen-cha-neul ttae eon-je-deun-ji o-se-yo.
Translation: Come anytime when it’s convenient for you.
This sentence does not specify a particular hour or day. As long as the time works, the person may come whenever they like. Japanese 「時間があるときは、いつでも来てください」 works the same way: both expressions open up the range of possible times. - Example: 예약은 언제든지 변경할 수 있어요.
Romanization: ye-yak-eun eon-je-deun-ji byeon-gyeong-hal su i-sseo-yo.
Translation: The reservation can be changed at any time.
「언제든지」 modifies the time at which the reservation can be changed, indicating that the change is not limited to a particular time. Japanese 「予約はいつでも変更できます」 has essentially the same meaning.
◆ Difference from Japanese 「Interrogative Word + でも」:
Japanese 「interrogative word + でも」 has a relatively regular form: by changing the interrogative word, you can create 「何でも、誰でも、いつでも、どこでも、どれでも」. Korean can express the same idea of “not restricting the range,” but it does not always use one identical pattern. 「何でも」 is usually 「뭐든지／무엇이든지」, 「いつでも」 is 「언제든지」, and 「どこでも」 is 「어디든지」, all of which visibly use 「-든지」. For 「誰でも」, Korean often uses 「누구나」 in addition to 「누구든지」, especially in general statements such as “Anyone can participate” or “Anyone can make mistakes.” The National Institute of Korean Language explains 「-든지」 as indicating that there is no difference regardless of which option is chosen, which is very close to the range concept behind Japanese 「interrogative word + でも」.
However, 「누구나」 and 「누구든지」 cannot always be treated as completely interchangeable. 「누구나 참여할 수 있어요」 says that participation is open to everyone and naturally corresponds to Japanese 「誰でも参加できます」. But if several people are under consideration and the meaning is “It doesn’t matter who you send,” 「누구든지 괜찮아요」 is closer to Japanese 「誰でもいいです」 than 「누구나 괜찮아요」. So when you see Japanese 「誰でも」, you should not memorize Korean as always being 「누구나」. Instead, check whether the sentence means “everyone qualifies” or “it does not matter which person is chosen.”
When you encounter Japanese 「interrogative word + でも」, first check whether the sentence specifies a particular person, thing, time, or place. 「何でも」「誰でも」「どこでも」 all open up the range instead of selecting one particular member. 「いつでも」 works the same way, except that the range is time. 「どれでもいいです」 means that any of the listed options is fine, while 「誰でも参加できます」 means that participation is not limited to a specific category of people.
The distinction becomes even clearer when 「か」 and 「も」 are placed alongside it. 「何か」 refers to some thing without specifying which one. 「何も + negative」 means not even one. 「何でも」 includes anything within the range. The same way of thinking can be applied to 「誰か／誰も／誰でも」 and 「どこか／どこも／どこでも」, so there is no need to memorize a separate English translation for every single set.
「いつでも」 also needs to be kept separate from 「いつも」. 「いつでも」 answers the question of whether the time is restricted, while 「いつも」 describes how often something normally happens. Both may end up translated with similar wording in Chinese, but Japanese is expressing different ideas. When you see this type of sentence, first check whether the interrogative word is followed by 「でも、か、も」, then check whether the whole sentence is affirmative or negative. That will usually tell you which range the expression refers to.
FAQs
「Interrogative word + でも」 means “any ～,” “no matter which ～,” or “any one is fine.” The key point is that the options covered by the interrogative word are not selectively excluded. Common forms include 「何でも」「誰でも」「いつでも」「どこでも」「どれでも」.
「何でも」 is read 「なんでも」, not 「なにでも」. In this form, 「何」 takes the reading 「なん」, so 「何でも食べます」 is read 「なんでもたべます」.
「何でも」 means “anything / whatever,” while 「何も」 is usually paired with a negative form in beginner-level patterns and means “nothing / not anything.” For example, 「何でも食べます」 means “I eat anything,” while 「何も食べません」 means “I don’t eat anything.”
「いつでも」 means “anytime” or “whenever” and indicates that the time can be chosen freely. 「いつも」 normally means “always” or “usually” and expresses frequency or habit. The former appears in expressions such as 「いつでも来てください」, while the latter appears in sentences such as 「いつもコーヒーを飲みます」.
At the beginner level, it is useful to learn 「interrogative word + でも」 together with affirmative, potential, and permission expressions, but this does not mean negative forms are grammatically impossible. For example, 「誰でも参加できるわけではない」 is a partial negation meaning “Not everyone can participate,” so it is no longer a simple universal affirmative statement.