Structure
Verb[る]+ まで(も)
Noun + まで(も)
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Standard
使用域
一般
Rare Kanji
迄
About まで
The adverbial particle まで is used in the same way as many other adverbial particles, in that it is highlighting that the statement that comes after it as important in some way. However, unlike our first look at まで, which discussed its use as 'until', this use of まで has the nuance of 'even', or 'to the extent'. It can be used after verbs or nouns.
- 私はお金を払ってまで旅行には行きたくない。I would not go to the extent of paying money to go traveling.
- お腹がすきすぎて、大嫌いなバナナまで食べた。Because I was so hungry, I even ate a banana, which I hate.
- バイクまで持っているの?You even have a bike?
- 一回笑ったら、面白くない話しまでおかしくなる。Once you start laughing, even uninteresting topics become funny.
Fun Fact
The も particle is sometimes grouped together with まで, when the meaning is 'even'. This just adds emphasis to the fact that the event is somewhat surprising, or that the result is satisfying.- 私はスポーツカーまでも持っています。I even have a sports car.
Synonyms
さえ
Even
Not studied yet
Noun + まで
Until, Till, To (but no further than)
Not studied yet
Verb + まで
Until (something) happens
Not studied yet
ほど
The more, About, To the extent that, So much… that
Not studied yet
くらい ②
To the extent that, So…that, About the only thing that...
Not studied yet
ほど~ない
Is not as…as, Isn't... like..., Not to the extent of...
Not studied yet
Examples
夜中まで日本語の文法を勉強している。
I'm studying Japanese grammar even in the middle of the night.
お腹が空いているとき、熊は果実まで食べる。
Bears will even go as far as to eat berries when they are hungry.
お金を払ってまでテストを受けたくない。
I don't want to go to the extent of paying money to take the test.
頭まで痛くなってきた。
Even my head is starting to hurt.
君たちがいたから、ここまで来られた。
Because you guys were here, we were able to come even here/this far.
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Online
The Particle まで II
Imabi
The Particle まで
Imabi
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Tobira
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まで – Grammar Discussion
Most Recent Replies (11 in total)
EdBunpro
An admin/high-level person can chime in, but when i had this exact question awhile ago I found the answer to be in this page
Munzu
Can anybody please give me an explanation of the difference between ほど and まで in this context? The explanations in the grammar points don’t make the difference clear to me and the link above doesn’t cover the “even/to the extent” nuance.
Tim
I have a question that is well represented by this example:
お腹が空いているとき、熊は果実まで食べる。
Bears will even go as far as to eat berries when they are hungry.
Is there any nuance to adding the “まで” to the noun here (berries) instead of the verb (eat)? Would this be equivalent:
お腹が空いているとき、熊は果実を食べるまで。
To me, this feels more like the English equivalent of “Bears will even go so far as to [eat berries]” whereas the original feels like “Bears will go so far as to eat even [berries]”
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