〜も同然だ
mo douzen da
By Nihongo PathUpdated
Meaning
as good as …; practically …; virtually the same as …
〜も同然だ says that something is practically the same as X, even if not literally. 勝ったも同然だ = "as good as won"; 家族も同然 = "practically family"; ただも同然 = "practically free". 同然 (どうぜん) means "the same as". It is used for emphasis.
Spoken and written, neutral to slightly emphatic. Attaches to nouns (家族・ただ・新品・死んだ), past verbs (勝った・終わった・決まった), and negatives (ない・知らない). 〜も同然の + N is the attributive form.
Formation
V = verb, N = noun, A = adjective.
N + も同然だ (家族も同然だ・ただも同然だ)Vた + も同然だ (勝ったも同然だ・終わったも同然だ)Vない + も同然だ (ないも同然だ・知らないも同然だ)〜も同然の + N (新品も同然の車)
Visual diagram
まだ勝っていない
not literally won yet
勝ったも同然だ
but practically won
勝った
literally won
まだ勝っていない
not literally won yet
勝ったも同然だ
but practically won
勝った
literally won
Natural examples
試合はもう勝ったも同然だ。
しあいはもうかったもどうぜんだ。
The match is as good as won.
Not literally over, but practically won.
彼は家族も同然の親友だ。
かれはかぞくもどうぜんのしんゆうだ。
He is a close friend who is practically family.
Noun use: a friend who is practically family.
ここまで来たら、ただも同然の値段だ。
ここまできたら、ただもどうぜんのねだんだ。
At this point the price is practically free.
ただ (free) + も同然: practically free.
この中古車は走行距離が少なく、新品も同然だ。
このちゅうこしゃはそうこうきょりがすくなく、しんぴんもどうぜんだ。
This used car has very low mileage; it is as good as new.
Noun + も同然.
名前だけの参加では、来なかったも同然だ。
なまえだけのさんかでは、こなかったもどうぜんだ。
Taking part in name only is as good as not having come.
Negative past + も同然.
Similar grammar and the difference
"As if", a figurative comparison that is not true. も同然 says it is effectively true. Compare side by side
"Almost about to", describing an appearance or state on the verge (泣かんばかり). も同然 is about practical equivalence. Compare side by side
〜も同様だ
The formal near-synonym ("likewise"). も同然 is more colloquial and emphatic.
Common mistakes
- ✗
- 勝つも同然だ。
- ✓
- 勝ったも同然だ。
- Why
- Verbs attach in the past form (or negative); the dictionary form is not used.
- ✗
- 彼は家族と同然だ。
- ✓
- 彼は家族も同然だ。
- Why
- The particle is も.
- ✗
- 熱があるので、病気も同然だ。
- ✓
- 熱があるので、病人も同然だ。
- Why
- X should be a state or role the subject is practically in (病人), not the abstract noun 病気.
Set phrases: ただも同然・家族も同然・新品も同然・死んだも同然・ないも同然. も同然の + N works as an adjective: 家族も同然の付き合い. It can be harsh: 来なかったも同然 / やらなかったも同然 dismisses someone's effort.
JLPT N1 tips
On the exam
- In 文法形式の判断, a nearly-true state + も + a blank + だ is 同然. Check that verbs are in the past or negative form.
- Distractor かのようだ: it marks a figurative resemblance, not practical equivalence.
- In 並べ替え, も同然だ follows the past verb or noun directly.
Frequently asked questions
What does 〜も同然だ mean?
as good as …; practically …; virtually the same as …. 〜も同然だ says that something is practically the same as X, even if not literally. 勝ったも同然だ = "as good as won"; 家族も同然 = "practically family"; ただも同然 = "practically free". 同然 (どうぜん) means "the same as". It is used for emphasis.
How do you form 〜も同然だ?
N + も同然だ (家族も同然だ・ただも同然だ) / Vた + も同然だ (勝ったも同然だ・終わったも同然だ) / Vない + も同然だ (ないも同然だ・知らないも同然だ) / 〜も同然の + N (新品も同然の車). V = verb, N = noun, A = adjective.
When is 〜も同然だ used?
Spoken and written, neutral to slightly emphatic. Attaches to nouns (家族・ただ・新品・死んだ), past verbs (勝った・終わった・決まった), and negatives (ない・知らない). 〜も同然の + N is the attributive form.
What is the difference between 〜も同然だ and 〜かのようだ?
"As if", a figurative comparison that is not true. も同然 says it is effectively true.
What is the difference between 〜も同然だ and 〜んばかり(だ)?
"Almost about to", describing an appearance or state on the verge (泣かんばかり). も同然 is about practical equivalence.
What is a common mistake with 〜も同然だ?
Wrong: 勝つも同然だ。 Right: 勝ったも同然だ。 Verbs attach in the past form (or negative); the dictionary form is not used.
Quick check
あと一点取れば、優勝は（ ）も同然だ。