N1 Role, Status, and Evaluation

~も同然どうぜんだ: meaning, usage and examples

~も同然どうぜんだ means: as good as... / practically the same as...

Updated 9 November 2026 · By the My Senpai team · Spotted a mistake? Tell us

Examples

1. ここまでできたら、もう完成かんせいしたも同然どうぜんだ。

   If you've made it this far, it's as good as finished.

2. 彼かれに秘密ひみつを話はなすのは、皆みんなに話はなすも同然どうぜんだ。

   Telling him a secret is practically the same as telling everyone.

3. 一度いちども使つかっていないので、このカメラは新品しんぴんも同然どうぜんです。

   I have never used it, so this camera is as good as new.

4. 契約けいやく書しょにサインしてもらえたから、この話はなしはもう決きまったも同然どうぜんだ。

   They signed the contract, so the deal is as good as settled.

When to use it

Says that something is not literally X, but is practically the same as X: "as good as", "virtually". It often describes a result that is almost certain or a state that is close to another: このカメラは新品しんぴんも同然どうぜんだ (this camera is as good as new), 試合しあいは勝かったも同然どうぜんだ (the game is as good as won).

Nuance

Used in speech and writing, a little emphatic and subjective. The speaker states a firm personal judgment that the difference does not matter. It is not used for a real, measured similarity in appearance; use に似にている or のようだ for that. It can be positive or negative.

Compare

と同おなじだ states two things are the same: 値段ねだんは昨日きのうと同おなじだ. も同然どうぜんだ says they are not the same but might as well be: ほとんど使つかっていないので、新品しんぴんも同然どうぜんだ. Compare に等ひとしい, more formal and written: 不可能ふかのうに等ひとしい (virtually impossible). も同然どうぜん is the more conversational of the two.

Tip: Read も同然どうぜんだ as "might as well be". The thing before it is never literally true; that is the whole point.