Even as in “is there even”


There are a lot of ways to expres the English word “even”, but I am not sure
which one to use in the meaning of:

  * What’s this? Is it _even_ food?
  * Is there _even_ a way get out of here?
  * Does such a person _even_ exist?

It looks like neither も or さえ fit here as they correspond to a different
“even”. I can only come up with plain unflavored sentences that don’t include
the intended, slightly sarcastic doubt.

  * 食物ですか。
  * ここを出る方法がありますか。
  * そんな人がいますか。

How can I change those to inject this meaning?




I think the adverb
[そもそも](https://jisho.org/search/%E3%81%9D%E3%82%82%E3%81%9D%E3%82%82) is the
word you are looking for. You can use this both in informal and formal
situations.

  * これは何？ そもそも食べ物なの？
  * そもそもここを出る方法はあるのですか？
  * そもそもそんな人間はいるのだろうか。




I think the adverb
[そもそも](https://jisho.org/search/%E3%81%9D%E3%82%82%E3%81%9D%E3%82%82) is the
word you are looking for. You can use this both in informal and formal
situations.

  * これは何？ そもそも食べ物なの？
  * そもそもここを出る方法はあるのですか？
  * そもそもそんな人間はいるのだろうか。

