JLPT N1Written, formalModest

なりともeven just (a little)

You ask for, offer or hope for something small, and say that even that much would do. 少すこしなりとも is a formal 少すこしでも.

多た少しょうなりともお役やくに立たてれば幸さいわいです。

I would be glad if I could be of even a little help.

ご多た忙ぼうのところ恐きょう縮しゅくですが、少すこしなりともお時じ間かんをいただけないでしょうか。

I am sorry to trouble you when you are so busy, but could you spare me even a little of your time?

How to form it

A small amount + なりとも

なりと, without も, means the same.

Before it: Something small: 多た少しょう, 少すこし, わずか, or one of something: 一ひと目め, 一ひと言こと, 一いち度ど.
After it: A request, an offer or a hope: いただければ, 〜たい, 願ねがっております.
Tone: Modest and courteous, with an old-fashioned ring.
Where you'll meet it: Business emails, formal letters, speeches, appeals for donations, period dramas.
In everyday speech: People say でも or だけでも: 少すこしでも, 五ご分ふんだけでも.

In use

専せん門もん家かの方かたから一ひと言ことなりとも助じょ言げんをいただきたい。

I would like to receive even a brief word of advice from an expert.

帰き国こくする前まえに、せめて一ひと目めなりとも先せん生せいにお会あいしたい。

Before I go back to my country, I would like to see my teacher, if only for a moment.

せめて (at the very least) often comes with it.

今こん回かいの失しっ敗ぱいには、私わたしも多た少しょうなりとも責せき任にんを感かんじている。

I too feel responsible for this failure, at least to some degree.

多た少しょうなりとも is the one you will meet most, and not only in requests. In a plain statement it means "to some degree, however small".

Two things to know

To a friend it sounds like a period drama

The courtesy is built in, so it clashes with casual speech.

Sounds odd: ねえ、一ひと口くちなりともちょうだい。

Hey, give me even just one bite.

Say 一ひと口くちだけちょうだい.

何なりと is "anything at all"

With 何なん it turns into an open offer: whatever you ask. Hotel and shop staff say it, nearly always without も.

ご用ようがございましたら、何なんなりとお申もうし付つけください。

If you need anything, anything at all, please just ask.

Close neighbours

たりとも～ないN1

One sound away, and the other way around: with a negative, not even one.

彼かれは一いち日にちたりとも練れん習しゅうを休やすまなかった。

He did not miss even a single day of practice.

なり～なりN1

Two examples to choose between: this, or that, or something like them.

困こまったら、電でん話わなりメールなりで連れん絡らくしてください。

If you get stuck, contact me by phone, by email or however suits you.

Check yourself

1Which one fits?

試し合あい中ちゅうは一いっ瞬しゅん（　　）気きを抜ぬけない。

Choose an answer to see why.

2Which would you say to a friend?

Choose an answer to see why.

3What does this mean?

何なんなりとお申もうし付つけください。

Choose an answer to see why.

More sentences

一いち度どなりとも現げん地ちをご覧らんいただきたいと願ねがっております。

We sincerely hope that you will visit the site at least once.

わずかなりともご寄き付ふいただければ幸さいわいです。

We would be grateful for a donation, however small.

いささかなりとも復ふっ興こうのお力ちからになれればと願ねがっております。

We hope to be of some help, however slight, in the recovery.