も (also/too)

• Reading: も
• Romaji: mo
• Formation: Noun + も + Predicate (replaces は/が/を; added after に/で/へ)

Meaning

A particle that indicates that the same thing holds true for the marked element, similar to English 'also' or 'too.' It replaces は, が, or を to signal that the statement applies to this element as well.

も replaces the particles は, が, and を when adding the meaning of 'also' or 'too.' For example, 私は学生です becomes 私も学生です (I am also a student). After other particles like に, で, and へ, も is added rather than replacing them: 東京にも行った (I also went to Tokyo). The particle implies a comparison with a previously stated or implied situation. Unlike English where 'too' is placed at the end, も attaches directly to the noun it modifies. も can also appear in negative sentences to mean 'not...either': 彼も来なかった (he didn't come either). Using も multiple times in one sentence creates emphasis or lists parallel items.

Examples

1. 田中さんは日本人です。山田さんも日本人です。 Mr. Tanaka is Japanese. Ms. Yamada is also Japanese.
2. 私はコーヒーが好きです。紅茶も好きです。 I like coffee. I also like tea.
3. 兄は医者です。弟も医者です。 My older brother is a doctor. My younger brother is also a doctor.

Usage Guide

Context: spoken, written, everyday

Tone: descriptive

Do Say

• 母は料理が上手です。父も上手です。
• この映画は面白い。あの映画も面白いよ。
• 大阪にも美味しいお店がたくさんある。

Don't Say

• 私もは学生です。(Adding も after は — も replaces は, it does not stack with it) → 私も学生です。
• 東京もに行きました。(Placing も before に — after locational particles, も comes after: にも) → 東京にも行きました。

Origin & History

も has been a foundational particle since Old Japanese, consistently meaning 'also' or 'even.' Its form and function have remained largely unchanged for over a millennium, making it one of the most stable elements in Japanese grammar.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal