JLPT N4EverydayInvitations and offers

でも…or something

After a noun, でも is "or something": it names one thing as an example and keeps an invitation or an offer light. It isn't the でも that starts a sentence and means "but", and it isn't "even".

暑あついですね。冷つめたいお茶ちゃでも飲のみましょう。

It's hot, isn't it? Let's have some cold tea or something.

今こん夜やは映えい画がでも見みない？

Want to watch a movie or something tonight?

How to form it

Noun + でも

でも takes the place of を: お茶ちゃを飲のむ → お茶ちゃでも飲のむ. に can stay in front of it: 公こう園えんにでも.

Before it: A drink, a meal, something to do, somewhere to go.
After it: Mostly an invitation, an offer or a suggestion.
Where you'll meet it: Conversation, polite or casual.

Which でも?

でも (but)N5

The first word of a new sentence: "but".

疲つかれた。でも、楽たのしかった。

I'm tired. But it was fun.

でも (even)N4

After a noun too, but followed by something that holds anyway: "even", "even if". After a question word it is "any": 何なんでも, anything.

雨あめでも行いきます。

I'll go even if it rains.

で + もN5

After a place, the particle で followed by も: "at … too".

私わたしは図と書しょ館かんで勉べん強きょうします。家いえでも勉べん強きょうします。

I study at the library. I also study at home.

In use

What you are really proposing is the break, the outing or the help, so the other person can say yes without wanting that exact thing.

A

まだ少すこし時じ間かんがありますね。

We still have a little time.

B

ええ。お茶ちゃでも飲のみませんか。

Yes. Would you like to have some tea or something?

疲つかれたね。少すこし休きゅう憩けいでもしようか。

That was tiring. Shall we take a little break or something?

an offer

のどが渇かわいたでしょう。冷つめたい水みずでも持もってきましょうか。

You must be thirsty. Shall I bring you some cold water or something?

今こん度ど、ご飯はんでも行いきましょう。

Let's go for a meal or something sometime.

Often said on parting, as friendliness more than as a plan.

を or でも?

コーヒーを飲のみませんか。

Would you like a coffee?

Coffee is what you are offering.

コーヒーでも飲のみませんか。

Would you like a coffee or something?

Coffee is an example. Tea would do just as well.

So でも doesn't go on something you have chosen. In an order it sounds as if you didn't care what came.

Sounds odd: コーヒーでもください。

A coffee or something, please.

To a waiter: コーヒーをください.

Close neighbours

とかN4

Also "or something", and more casual. It can follow a verb as well as a noun.

週しゅう末まつ、カフェに行いくとかどう？

How about going to a café or something this weekend?

Check yourself

1A colleague says this to you. What is being proposed?

仕し事ごとのあとで、ビールでも飲のみに行いきませんか。

Choose an answer to see why.

2Which sentence has the "or something" でも?

Choose an answer to see why.

More detail

Your own loose plans

It also fits something you may do yourself, when what exactly doesn't matter.

暇ひまだし、本ほんでも読よもうかな。

I've got nothing to do. Maybe I'll read a book or something.

More sentences

夕ゆう食しょくまでまだ時じ間かんがあるし、散さん歩ぽでもどう？

We've still got time before dinner, so how about a walk or something?

雨あめだから、家いえでゲームでもしよう。

It's raining, so let's play a game or something at home.

天てん気きがいいから、公こう園えんにでも行いきませんか。

The weather's nice, so shall we go to the park or somewhere?

ちょっと時じ間かんがあるなら、本ほん屋やでものぞいていかない？

If you've got a little time, want to look in at a bookstore or something?

お腹なかがすいたら、サンドイッチでも作つくりますよ。

If you get hungry, I can make a sandwich or something.

新あたらしい趣しゅ味みなら、写しゃ真しんでも始はじめてみたら？

If you want a new hobby, why not try photography or something?