【JLPT N1 Grammar】〜たりとも〜ない（~taritomo~nai）

2020年4月25日 2024年10月10日

Explanation：〜たりとも〜ない

Meaning
“〜であっても / 〜さえも”

Used to emphasize that not even the smallest amount or the least degree of something is allowed or happens. It expresses absolute denial or prohibition, often using numbers or units of something (like "1 yen," "a single person") to indicate that even the smallest possible unit is not allowed or does not occur. It can be translated as "not even" or "not a single" in English.

Form
1 + counter + たりとも

Points

Emphasizing Absoluteness: The phrase stresses that even the smallest amount or degree of something is completely prohibited or nonexistent.
Focus on Small Units: It typically uses small units (like "1 yen," "1 second") to highlight that nothing at all is allowed or occurs.
Strong Negative Expression: This is a strong negative form, often used in formal or serious contexts.

JLPT Level
N1

Sample sentenes

試験しけんまであと１週間しゅうかん。１日にちたりとも無駄むだにはできない。
There is one week left until the exam. I can't afford to waste even a single day.

明日あしたは試験しけんですね。１分ぷんたりとも遅刻ちこくは許ゆるしませんから、早はやく学校がっこうに来くるようにしてください。
The exam is tomorrow. I will not tolerate being late even by a single minute, so please come to school early.

お金かねは１円えんたりとも無駄むだにしてはなりません。
You must not waste even a single yen.

彼かれは１日にちたりとも、学校がっこうを休やすんだことがない。
He has never missed even a single day of school.

あの日ひの出来事できごとは１日にちたりとも、忘わすれたことがありません。
I haven't forgotten that event even for a single day.

Vocabulary

Japanese		English
無駄にする	むだにする	to waste
許す	ゆるす	to forgive