Grammar › Emphatic Negation
たりとも〜ない — “not even a single…”
An emphatic way to deny even the smallest possible amount or instance of something
A minimal counting expression (一瞬, 一円, 一歩, etc.) + たりとも, paired with a negative predicate, emphatically rules out even the tiniest instance — “not even a single X.” It's a dramatic, formal intensifier for absolute denial.
How to form it
| Pattern | Example |
|---|---|
| Minimal unit + たりとも + negative | 一瞬たりとも気を抜けない — I can't let my guard down even for a single instant |
Example sentences
| Japanese | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 一円たりとも無駄にはできない。 | いちえんたりともむだにはできない。 ichientaritomomudanihadekinai。 | I can't waste even a single yen. |
| この秘密は誰にたりとも漏らしてはならない。 | このひみつはだれにたりとももらしてはならない。 konohimitsuhadarenitaritomomorashitehanaranai。 | This secret must not be leaked to anyone, not even one person. |
| 油断は一瞬たりとも許されない。 | ゆだんはいっしゅんたりともゆるされない。 yudanhaisshuntaritomoyurusarenai。 | Not even a moment of carelessness is permitted. |
🔊 Tap any Japanese sentence to hear it; kanji link to their study pages.
Watch out
たりとも needs a minimal counting unit (一瞬, 一円, 一歩) to emphasize — plugging in a large or vague quantity defeats the whole point, which is stressing how even the smallest amount matters.
