How do you use "anything" in a sentence?

Is there anything I can do to help? I'd give anything to see them again. The film was anything but boring.

anything

Q: What does "anything" mean?

Any thing at all; any matter or concern 'Anything' is used in questions and negatives to refer to any thing without specifying what. In affirmative sentences, it means 'no matter what' ('I'll do anything for you'). Common phrases include 'anything but' (definitely not), 'if anything' (if at all), and 'anything like' (at all similar to).

Vocabulary Word BritishAmerican ★★★★★ Very Common Neutral

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Meaning: Any thing at all; any matter or concern

任何事物；任何东西

cualquier cosa, algo

何でも、何か

무엇이든, 무엇이나; 어떤 것

'Anything' is used in questions and negatives to refer to any thing without specifying what. In affirmative sentences, it means 'no matter what' ('I'll do anything for you'). Common phrases include 'anything but' (definitely not), 'if anything' (if at all), and 'anything like' (at all similar to).

「anything」用于疑问句和否定句中指任何事物，不具体说明是什么。在肯定句中，意为「无论什么」（「I'll do anything for you」）。常见短语包括「anything but」（绝对不是）、「if anything」（如果有的话）和「anything like」（有任何相似之处）。

«Anything» se usa en preguntas y negaciones para referirse a cualquier cosa sin especificar qué. En oraciones afirmativas, significa «no importa qué» («I'll do anything for you»). Frases comunes incluyen «anything but» (definitivamente no), «if anything» (si acaso) y «anything like» (en absoluto similar a).

「anything」は疑問文や否定文で、何かを特定せずに何でも指すために使われます。肯定文では「何でも」を意味します（「I'll do anything for you」）。一般的なフレーズには「anything but」（決して〜ない）、「if anything」（どちらかといえば）、「anything like」（少しでも似ている）があります。

'Anything'은 의문문과 부정문에서 특정하지 않은 어떤 것을 가리킬 때 사용됩니다. 긍정문에서는 '무엇이든'이라는 뜻입니다('I'll do anything for you'). 자주 쓰이는 표현으로는 'anything but'(결코 ~이 아닌), 'if anything'(어차피, 굳이 말하자면), 'anything like'(조금이라도 비슷한) 등이 있습니다.

Examples

Is there anything I can do to help?
有什么我可以帮忙的吗？
¿Hay algo que pueda hacer para ayudar?
何かお手伝いできることはありますか？
제가 도울 수 있는 것이 있을까요?
I'd give anything to see them again.
我愿意付出一切再见到他们。
Daría cualquier cosa por verlos de nuevo.
彼らにもう一度会えるなら何でもします。
그들을 다시 만날 수 있다면 무엇이든 하겠습니다.
The film was anything but boring.
这部电影一点也不无聊。
La película fue todo menos aburrida.
その映画は全然退屈ではありませんでした。
그 영화는 전혀 지루하지 않았습니다.

Pronunciation

Usage Guide

Context: general

Tone: neutral

Origin & History

A compound of Old English 'ǣnig' (any) + 'þing' (thing). Formed in Middle English by combining these two ancient words. 'Thing' itself originally meant a meeting or assembly in Old Norse — so 'anything' literally once meant 'any matter'.

Cultural Context

Era: Modern

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal