46445
The song in question can be found [here](https://youtu.be/eOfaBZ1LohA). For
example:

> いっぽんでもニンジン

While I do know that でも means 'but', I also know that most particles have
multiple meanings.

Since 'but' wouldn't make much sense as a translation here, I am confident
that でも is used here to mean something else. That's what my question is about.

What does the sentence structure ＡでもＢ mean as it is used in the song?
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-04-10T07:22:09.947
46437
2017-04-12T00:22:47.480
2017-04-10T07:30:00.717
21667
question
grammar translation particles
What does the sentence structure ＡでもＢ mean in this song?
The song is meant to teach kids counter words. In every number from 1 to 10,
there is an example of a number + counter for that kind of concept, then でも,
and then the actual word that needs the counter that was used.

If you look at the example word given for each number+counter word carefully,
you will notice that it resembles the next number.

>   * 一本{いっぽん} でも **に** んじん
>   * 二足{にそく} でも **サン** ダル
>

and so on.

So I don't see why でも couldn't mean "but". The actual meaning is vague,
though, because the song doesn't have a real grammatical structure. It's just
a list of `amount+でも+item`.

Some possible interpretations of the function of でも here:

  * There is a cylindrical thing, **but** it's (called) a carrot.
  * The thing is called a ninjin (that sounds like 2), **even though** it is cylindrical (and is referred to as something that sounds like 1).
  * Whatever sounds logical. It would ruin the meaning of the song to say that there is only one correct interpretation.
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-04-10T07:42:42.820
46440
2017-04-10T09:46:56.723
2017-04-10T09:46:56.723
19206
19206
46437
answer
The でも in the song is conditional/hypothetical "even if" (indicating 逆接の仮定条件),
rather than the conjunction (接続詞) でも, "but", which usually comes at the
beginning of a sentence.

The でも here consists of で (the continuative form (連用形) of the copula だ) +
binding particle も.

So 「AでもB（だ/です）」 means "(It's) B, even if it's A."

> １本 **でも** ニンジン _lit._ (It's) ninjin, even if one.  
>  → It's called [ni]{2}njin, even if there's one piece (of carrot).
>
> ２足 **でも** サンダル _lit._ (They're) sandaru, even if two pairs.  
>  → You call them [san]{3}daru, even if you've got two pairs (of sandals).

* * *

Examples of this でも:

>   * 雨 **でも** 行きます。 I'll go even if it's rainy.
>   * 難しい仕事 **でも** やります。 I'll do even if it's a difficult task.
>   * ２個100円。３個 **でも** 100円。 Two for 100 yen. It'd still be 100 yen even if
> you bought three.
>
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-04-10T09:21:38.457
46445
2017-04-12T00:22:47.480
2017-04-12T00:22:47.480
9831
9831
46437
answer