Grammar Info

N1 Lesson 8: 4/19

１～たりとも～ないNot even one, Not a single, No (at all)

何人たりとも + Phrase[ない]/Verb + な

Structure

1 + Counter + たりとも + Phrase［ない］(1)

(1) Verb［な］

Details

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    Formal

About １～たりとも～ない

たりとも is a grammar pattern that is most often used in negative sentences, in order to indicate that (A) is not an exception to something. It will follow either number words, or nouns. Possible translations include 'not even one (A)', and 'not a single (A)'.

However, due to たりとも just being a combination of the auxiliary verb たり 'presenting examples', and the conjunction particle とも 'presenting approximate limitations', the literal translation of たりとも is just 'even limited to (A) as an example, not (B)', with the 'not (B)' coming from the negative structure in the second half of the sentence.

This is a very formal expression, so will not be used in daily conversation.

Fun Fact

何人(なんびと)たりとも 'no matter who it is, no exceptions' is a set expression that may see more frequent use than any of the other たりとも structures.

  • この洞窟(どうくつ)へは２０年前(にじゅうねんまえ)に起(お)きた事故(じこ)以来(いらい)、何人(なんびと)たりとも立(た)ち入(い)ることが許(うる)されない。
    Since the accident that occurred 20 years ago, no one has been allowed to enter this cave.

Examples

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    人間(にんげん)は酸素(さんそ)なしには１日(いちにち)たりとも生(い)きられない。

    Humans can not live even one day without oxygen.

    安全(あんぜん)や生命(せいめい)を脅(おびや)かすものは何(なん)人(びと)たりとも許(ゆる)されない。

    Not even one person is allowed to threaten life or security.

    今日(きょう)は沢山(たくさん)の仕事(しごと)があるので、一分(いっぷん)たりともぼーっとして過(す)ごすわけにはいきません。

    I have stacks of work to do today, so there’s no way I can zone out for even one minute.

      小説(しょうせつ)：「一瞬(いっしゅん)たりとも無駄(むだ)にしないつもりで生(い)きている。」

      Novel: 'He follows his belief of wasting not even one moment in his life.'

      茜雫(せんな)の死(し)以来(いらい)１５(じゅうご)年(ねん)経(た)ったが、彼女(かのじょ)を忘(わす)れたことは一(いち)度(ど)たりともなかった。

      Even though 15 years have passed since the death of Senna, I have not forgotten her even one time.

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