Is 「でいい」 the same as 「でもいい」?


For example in the sentence:

> 書くだけ **でいい** ですか.




The meanings are quite similar, but there's a subtle difference.

Both phrases involve settling for something, or one person making a choice on
behalf of another: `お昼ごはんはハンバーガーでいい？` "Would a hamburger do for lunch?" Or
something is sufficient: `そこにおくだけでいいです` "Please just put it there [and I'll do
the rest.]"

But `でもいい` has an added sense that there is something better or preferable out
there, but you are settling, or asking, for something less. This comes from
the use of `でも`, which has a negative conjunction.

That is, `お昼ごはんはハンバーガーでもいい?` has a nuance of, "I know you like something
else," or perhaps, "I don't know if you like a hamburger or not." Another
example would be: `名前を書くだけでもいいですか？` and this would mean something like, "[You
want to me to put down my address for this petition, but] would it be OK if I
just write my name?"

