GRAMMAR
〜たりとも〜ない
not even (a little)
Explanation
NOTE
〜たりとも〜ない means not even (a little) — it denies even the smallest amount of something.
一日たりとも休めない。
I can't rest even for a single day.
NOTE
It is formal and emphatic. The pattern uses 一 plus a counter to mean not even one unit.
一円たりとも無駄にできない。
We cannot waste even a single yen.
The ending must be negative; it expresses a firm refusal or impossibility.
NOTE
Attach たりとも to a noun of quantity (一 plus a counter). The clause must end in a negative.
STRUCTURE
N辞
たりとも ... ない一分たりとも遅れられない。
Ippun taritomo okurerarenai.
I can't be late even by a single minute.
一歩たりとも後へは引かない。
Ippo taritomo ato e wa hikanai.
I will not back down even a single step.
一滴たりとも水を無駄にしない。
Itteki taritomo mizu o muda ni shinai.
We will not waste even a single drop of water.
Practice exercises
1
一日たりとも休めない。
I can't rest even for a single day.
Answer
たりとも
2
一円たりとも無駄にできない。
We cannot waste even a single yen.
Answer
たりとも
3
一歩たりとも後へは引かない。
I will not back down even a single step.
Answer
たりとも
4
一瞬たりとも気を抜けないといったらない。
I cannot let my guard down even for a single moment; it's indescribable.
Answer
たりとも
5
一円たりとも無駄にできないのは、当然極まりない。
It's only natural that not even a single yen can be wasted.
Answer
たりとも
6
この契約書は、一文字たりとも書き間違えられない。
In this contract, not even a single character can be written incorrectly.
Answer
たりとも
7
締め切りが近く、一秒たりとも無駄にできない。
The deadline is near, and not even a single second can be wasted.
Answer
たりとも
8
交渉では、一歩たりとも譲るつもりはない。
In the negotiations, I have no intention of yielding even a single step.
Answer
たりとも