If you’ve ever wanted to say “me too!” in Japanese, も (mo) is your particle. One of the most natural and frequently used particles in the language, も marks inclusion. It signals that something is being added to a group, a conversation, or a shared experience. Think of it as the Japanese way of saying also, too, or as well.
In this guide, we’ll break down exactly how も works, walk through its structure, and show you how it shows up in real Japanese conversation through example sentences.
What is the Particle も (Mo)?
も is a particle that is generally used to indicate an addition or an inclusion. It attaches to words to indicate how they are included in a group or are an addition to something. It is similar to the English words “too” or “also”. Let’s take a look at a quick example:
コーヒーも好きです。
Koohii mo suki desu.
I also like coffee.
By attaching も to coffee, you are saying that you like coffee too, in addition to something else. Perhaps, earlier, you said that you like tea, so you can use the expression above to say that you like coffee too, and not just tea. Let’s dive into how the structure of も works in Japanese sentences.
Structure of も (Mo)
The particle も attaches to different words, modifying them to express that they are additional elements. The structure is very simple. Here is a breakdown of how it works:
| Type | Structure |
| Noun | Noun + も |
| い-adjective | い-adjective + く + も |
| な-adjective | な-adjective + も |
| Verb | Verb (dictionary form) + も |
も often follows a noun, following this general sentence pattern:
Noun + も + verb
Example:
りんごも食べます。
Ringo mo tabemasu.
I will also eat an apple.
While も is commonly used in this typical pattern, the particle can actually be used very flexibly. You can place it just about anywhere in a sentence and use it with different words and grammar types. Let’s take a look at how it works with grammatical patterns.
1. Using も with verbs:
も can attach to Japanese verbs to indicate additional actions that you do. You can attach it to different verb forms depending on the context. Here is how it works with verbs in dictionary form:
Verb (dictionary form) + も
歌う (utau | to sing) → 歌うも (utaumo)
Example 1:
絵を描くもできる。
E o kaku mo dekiru.
I can also draw.
Another common usage of も with verbs is to negate both verbs using the grammar 〜もしない (~moshinai), which often expresses frustration or disappointment:
Verb stem + も + しない／せずに
歌う (utau) → 歌も (utamo)
Example 2:
食べもしないし、飲みもしない。
Tabe mo shinai shi, nomi mo shinai.
He neither eats nor drinks.
However, if you want to attach も to verbs in て-form, it would express an entirely different meaning, something like “even if” or “even though.” This phrase often expresses a sense of surprise or highlights how something is different from what is expected.
Verb て-form + も
歌う → 歌っても
Example 3:
雨が降っても、イベントをキャンセルしません。
Ame ga futtemo, ibento o kyanseru shimasen.
Even if it rains, I won’t cancel the event.
2. Using も with い-adjectives:
も can also attach to い-adjectives, but only when they are conjugated into く form, and you also have to add ある (aru). Let’s break down how it works:
い-adjective (drop い) + く + も + ある
かわいい (kawaii | cute) → かわいくもある (kawaku mo aru)
Example:
この映画は長くもあり、つまらなくもある。
Kono eiga wa nagaku mo ari, tsumaranaku mo aru.
This movie is both long and boring.
3. With な-adjectives:
も attaches to な-adjectives using で, the te-form of だ, as a bridge. You have to add ある and follow the same logic as before, で connects the adjective to も, and then a verb or auxiliary completes the sentence.
な-adjective + で + も + ある
静か (shizuka | quiet) → 静かでもある (shizuka de mo aru)
Example 1:
彼女は親切でもあり、頭もいいです。
Kanojo wa shinsetsu demo ari, atama mo ii desu.
She is both kind and smart.
4. Using も (Mo) with Other Particles
You can even use も with different particles such as にも (nimo), とも (tomo), or でも (demo) to express that the phrase is included as part of something. Here is how you can use も with other particles:
Example:
美術館にも行きました。
Bijutsukan ni mo ikimashita.
I went to the museum as well.
*Note that particles like は (wa | subject marker), を (o | object marker), or が (ga | subject/object marker), are dropped whenever you use も. For instance, you cannot say ケーキがも好きです (keeki gamo sukidesu) as this would sound unnatural; to say the expression correctly, just simply drop the が: ケーキも好きです (keeki mo sukidesu).
5. Using も Twice
You can use も twice, following this pattern: AもBも + Verb, to say “both A and B” or when used in a negative context, “neither A nor B.” Using も in this pattern indicates that two things share the same characteristic.
Example 1:
ハンバーガーもステーキも食べました。
Hanbaagaa mo suteeki mo tabemashita.
I ate both a hamburger and a steak.
Example 2:
メロンもスイカも好きではありません。
Meron mo suika mo sukidewa arimasen.
I don’t like either melons or watermelons.
5. も at the end of a sentence
も can also be used at the end of a sentence, usually as a response to include someone or something, similar to saying “too.”
Example:
友達：タイ料理が食べたいです。
Tomodachi: Tai ryouri ga tabetai desu.
Friend: I want to eat Thai food.
あなた：私も！
Anata: watashi mo!
You: Me too!
Uses & Examples of も (Mo)
While も generally translates to “also” in English, it has different nuances and uses in Japanese. So let’s explore how も can be used in different ways using examples that will allow you to understand how it’s used in natural Japanese.
1. Using も (Mo) as “Also”
This is likely the most common usage of the particle も, but there are several nuances as to how it works. While も is similar to the usage of “also,” it doesn’t necessarily work the same grammatically. Let’s take a look at an example to explore what we mean.
ジョンも医者です。
Jon mo isha desu.
John is also a doctor.
You can see in this example, も, attached to the subject, ジョン (jon) or John, which indicates how John is “also” a doctor. However, the English phrase “John is also a doctor” can have two meanings. One, could be that John is a doctor as well as someone else; the other meaning could be that he is a doctor in addition to other things (maybe other jobs, or another role like a father).
But when も is attached to the subject, John, it can only mean that John is a doctor, in addition to someone else. If you want to say that John is also a doctor, along with other jobs, you would have to attach も to the word “doctor” instead.
ジョンはエンジニアだけではなく、医者でもあります。
Jon wa enjinia dake dewanaku, isha de mo arimasu.
John is not only an engineer, but he is also a doctor.
Here you can see how も is used to explain how John is also a doctor as well as an engineer. You probably noticed that we used the expression 〜であります (de arimasu) instead of です (desu). Just attaching も to 医者 (isha) and adding です would sound unnatural and wouldn’t complete the predicate (the clause that tells us about the subject). So, you would use も with 〜であります instead, to create the sentence, 医者でもあります (isha demo arimasu), meaning “he is also a doctor.”
2. Using も (Mo) as “Either” or “Neither”
も can also mean either in certain contexts, or rather a negative form of “also.” Often, this way of using も follows a negative statement, to say that the person or object is also not included in the set or group. Here is an example to demonstrate how it works:
Example 1:
ハンバーガーは日本の料理ではありません、パッタイも日本の料理ではありません。
Hanbaagaa wa nihon no ryouri de wa arimasen, pattai mo nihon no ryouri de wa arimasen.
A hamburger is not Japanese cuisine, and Pad Thai is not Japanese cuisine either.
In the example above, も is used to explain how pad thai is also not a part of Japanese cuisine, along with hamburgers. In this context, it translates closely to “either” in English. But when も is used twice in a negative context, も translates closer to neither. Here is how it works:
Example 2:
ハンバーガーもパッタイも日本の料理ではありません。
Hanbaagaa mo patta mo nihon no ryouri de wa arimasen.
Neither hamburgers nor Pad Thai is Japanese cuisine.
In this example, with も being attached to both hamburgers and pad thai, it expresses how neither of them is a part of Japanese food. As mentioned, using も twice indicates that both things are part of the set or group. Since the sentence is negative, it expresses how neither of them is part of the group nor set.
3. Using も (Mo) to Express Emphasis
も can also be used to express emphasis generally whenever you feel surprised or that something seems extreme. It can be used in both a positive and a negative connotation, often as a reaction to something someone tells you. You just attach it to a word or phrase that you want to emphasize.
Example:
ケーキを30個も食べたんですか?
Keeki o sanjuu ko mo tabetandesuka?
You ate (that many) 30 cakes?
In this example, も is attached to 30個 (sanjuu ko), meaning 30 counts (of cakes) with 個 being a Japanese counter for general objects. Since eating 30 cakes is rather surprising, も expresses your sense of shock. For more details on how to use も in this context, check out our video from Yuka-sensei:
Common Mistakes When Using the Japanese Particle も (Mo)
1. Using も and は Together Incorrectly
も actually replaces は (and が) — it doesn’t join it. Think of も as stepping in to take over the topic-marking role, not sitting beside it.
For example, imagine your friend just said they’re heading out and you want to say you’re coming too. That’s exactly where も steps in — and where learners often overcorrect by keeping は in the sentence out of habit.
So instead of:
私はも行きます
Watashi wa mo ikimasu
The correct form is:
私も行きます
Watashi mo ikimasu ✓
I’m going too.”
2. Forgetting That も Replaces Other Particles
common mistake is leaving the original particle in and adding も on top of it, but in everyday Japanese, も replaces them entirely.
Think of it this way: if you’re at a restaurant and your friend orders sushi, then you want to say you’re having sushi too. You don’t need を anymore. も is already doing the job.
3. Overusing も for Emphasis
Because も feels like a simple “also,” learners sometimes drop it into sentences where Japanese speakers would use a different structure entirely. も marks inclusion in a set. If there’s no established group or comparison, the sentence can feel off to a native ear.
4. Confusing も with だって or でも
も isn’t the only way to express “also” or “even” in Japanese. だって and でも can overlap in meaning but carry different nuance and register. Using も in casual speech where だって would be more natural is a subtle but noticeable mistake.
5. Using も in Negative Sentences Without Adjusting the Meaning
In negative sentences, も shifts meaning from “also” to “either” or “not… either.” 私も行きません means I’m not going either, not I’m also not going. Learners sometimes write this correctly but misread what it actually says.
Conclusion:
The particle も is similar to saying “too” or “also” and is one of the most common particles used in everyday Japanese conversation. So, start incorporating this grammar point into your Japanese speaking by practicing with a teacher who can offer practical guidance at Coto Academy.
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FAQ: Particle も (Mo)
What does も mean?
も is a particle (attaches to other words) that means “also” or “too,” and is used to include something additional alongside what has already been stated. However, depending on the context, it can also express “even,” “neither/nor,” or emphasis on a surprising degree of something.
How is も used to express "neither/nor"?
By pairing も with a negative ending on both clauses, you can express that neither of the two things applies. This is the Japanese equivalent of “neither A nor B.”
Can も be used for emphasis?
Yes,も can emphasise a surprising or noteworthy quantity or degree, similar to “as many as” or “as much as” in English. This use often appears with numbers or amounts to highlight that the quantity is more than expected.
Can も attach to other particles?
も can attach to other particles to make common patterns such as にも (nimo), とも (tomo), and でも (demo). However, も cannot attach to は (wa), が(ga), or を (o), instead replacing them in a given sentence. For instance, if you want to say “I also eat fish,” you can say 魚も食べます (sakana mo tabemasu), but do not attach も to を!