も means “too,” “also,” or, with a negative verb, “(not) either.” It is a JLPT N5 particle that attaches right after a noun and says: the same thing is true for this one as well. 私も行きます means “I’m going too.”
The tricky part is not the meaning but the placement. も replaces some particles and stacks on top of others, and the word it follows is the word that gets the “too.” Once you have those two rules down, も is easy.
も goes directly after the word that is “also.” Move it, and you change what the sentence adds.
What does も mean?
も tells the listener that a statement already made (or clearly implied) also applies to a new item.
- 田中さんは学生です。山田さんも学生です。 — Mr Tanaka is a student. Ms Yamada is also a student.
- In a negative sentence, it means “either” or “neither”: 私も行きません — I’m not going either.
も has three N5 uses you should know:
- Also / too: 私も — me too.
- Both … and / neither … nor: AもBも — 肉も魚も食べます (I eat both meat and fish).
- Question word + も + negative = not any: 何も (nothing), だれも (nobody), どこにも (nowhere).
How to form も
The basic structure is simply noun + も. What happens to the original particle depends on which one it was.
も replaces は, が, and を:
- 私は学生です → 私も学生です
- 猫がいます → 犬もいます
- パンを買いました → 牛乳も買いました
も stacks after other particles:
- 京都に行きました → 大阪にも行きました
- 家で勉強します → 図書館でも勉強します
- 母と話しました → 父とも話しました
For “both A and B,” put も after each noun: 日本語も英語も. For “nothing / nobody / nowhere,” use 何も, だれも, どこにも with a negative verb.
When is も used?
- Agreeing or joining in: A says コーヒーが好きです, and you answer 私も (“Me too”). A single 私も is a complete, natural reply.
- Adding items: ordering in a shop — これもください (“This one too, please”).
- Repeated situations: 今日も雨です (“It’s raining again today”). Here も means “as before.”
- Total negation: 何も食べていません (“I haven’t eaten anything”).
も is neutral in register. It works the same way in polite and casual speech; only the verb ending changes.
も example sentences
A：私は明日のパーティーに行きます。 B：私も行きます。
A: I’m going to the party tomorrow. B: I’m going too.
これもください。
I’ll take this one too, please.
日本語も英語も話します。
I speak both Japanese and English.
先週、大阪に行きました。京都にも行きました。
Last week I went to Osaka. I went to Kyoto too.
今日も暑いですね。
It’s hot again today, isn’t it?
朝から何も食べていません。
I haven’t eaten anything since this morning.
教室にはだれもいません。
There’s nobody in the classroom.
Nuance of も
The position of も decides what is being added. Compare:
- 私も京都に行きました。 — I also went to Kyoto (like you did).
- 私は京都にも行きました。 — I went to Kyoto too (as well as other places).
English “I also went to Kyoto” can mean either one. Japanese forces you to choose, so ask yourself which word is the “extra” one and put も right after it.
In negative sentences も creates total negation. 何も, だれも, and どこにも always need a negative verb: 何も食べません (“I don’t eat anything”). If you want a positive “something,” you need 何か instead.
You will also meet も after a number or amount, where it does not mean “too” at all: 三時間も待ちました means “I waited for as long as three hours.” Here も shows that the speaker finds the amount surprisingly large. You do not need to produce this use at N5, but recognising it keeps you from translating it as “I also waited three hours.”
Quick reply: when someone tells you something that is true for you as well, a short 私も！ is the most natural answer. For a negative, 私も is still correct: A 行きません → B 私も (“Me neither”).
も vs は
Both particles follow a noun and can start a sentence, so learners often swap them.
は separates, も joins. If your friend says 私は肉を食べません and you also don’t, 私も食べません joins you with them. 私は食べます would contrast you with them. See は as a topic marker for the contrast use.
Common mistakes with も
も replaces は, が, and を. Never keep both.
何も needs a negative verb (“nothing”). For a positive “something,” use 何か.
私も adds another person. To add another place, put も after the place and keep に.
Is も on the JLPT?
Yes. も is a core N5 particle. Expect it in particle-choice questions, where you pick between は, が, を, and も, and in listening, where 私も often signals someone agreeing.
At N5 you should be able to:
- Know that も replaces は/が/を but stacks after に, で, と
- Understand AもBも as “both” (positive) or “neither” (negative)
- Read 何も, だれも, どこにも + negative as “nothing, nobody, nowhere”
A frequent trap is a blank after 何 in a negative sentence: 何（ ）食べませんでした. Only も gives the natural meaning “I didn’t eat anything.”
Practice questions for も
Show answer
私もコーヒーが好きです。 — I like coffee too.
Show answer
肉も魚も食べません。 — I eat neither meat nor fish.
Show answer
部屋にだれもいません。 — There’s nobody in the room.
Show answer
図書館でも勉強しました。 — I studied at the library too.
Learning path for も
Related grammar to review next
- は (topic marker) — the particle も most often replaces; は contrasts where も adds.
- だけ — limits to “only,” the opposite direction from も.
- と — joins nouns in a list (AとB), while AもBも stresses that both are included.
- に (particle) — the most common particle that も stacks onto as にも.
Learn も with Hane
Hane gives you short particle drills where you decide whether も replaces or stacks, so 私も and 京都にも stop feeling random. Practise N5 particles in Hane.
FAQ about も
What does も (mo) mean in Japanese?
も (mo) means “too or also”. It is JLPT N5 grammar. も tells the listener that a statement already made (or clearly implied) also applies to a new item.
How do you form も (mo)?
The basic structure is simply noun + も. What happens to the original particle depends on which one it was.
What is the difference between も and は?
も: adds to something already said. は: sets the topic, can contrast.
What is an example sentence with も (mo)?
A：私は明日のパーティーに行きます。 B：私も行きます。 — A: I’m going to the party tomorrow. B: I’m going too.