Meaning & usage
何 paired with particles like も creates an expression of total negation meaning nothing, not anything, or not at all. Common patterns include 何も, 何一つ, and 何の + noun + も, which appear with a negative verb or adjective as in 何も食べない or 何の変化もない. The predicate must remain negative, since the affirmative counterpart for something is 何か, and omitting the negative changes the meaning entirely.
Example sentences 5
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父は家では何一つやらないんです。
My father doesn't lift a finger at home.
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私は失われた手紙について何も知らない。
I know nothing concerning the lost letter.
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結婚には多くの苦悩があるが、独身には何の喜びもない。
Marriage has many pains, but celibacy has no pleasures.
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彼は何日も何も食べないでいることがよくある。
He often goes without food for days.
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これ以上何も読みたくない。
I don't want to read anything else.
