The 副助詞(ふくじょし) (adverbial particle)
まで is used in the same way as many other adverbial particles, in that it is highlighting that the statement that comes after it as important in some way. However, unlike our first look at
まで, which discussed its use as ‘until’, this use of
まで has the nuance of ‘even’, or ‘to the extent’. It can be used after verbs or nouns.
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私(わたし)はお金(かね)を払(はら)ってまで旅行(りょこう)には行(い)きたくない。
I would not go to the extent of paying money to go traveling.
-
お腹(なか)がすきすぎて、大(だい)嫌(きら)いなバナナまで食(た)べた。
Because I was so hungry, I even ate a banana, which I hate.
Although using
まで as ‘even’ may seem different to ‘until’, they are essentially the same thing in Japanese. This is because
まで always means ‘(A)
まで, (B)’, where (A) is the ‘limitation/extent’, and (B) is the ‘noteworthy factor’. This ‘noteworthy factor’ will usually be a descriptive word/phrase, such as a verb, adjective, or explanation.
-
バイクまで持(も)っているの?
You even have a bike?
-
一回(いっかい)笑(わら)ったら、面白(おもしろ)くない話(はな)しまでおかしくなる。
Once you start laughing, even uninteresting topics become funny.
The
も particle is sometimes grouped together with
まで, when the meaning is ‘even’. This just adds emphasis to the fact that the event is somewhat surprising, or that the result is satisfying.