Lesson 12
Concessive conditions: no matter how / even if
- 1 〜(よ)うと(も) ~(y)ō to (mo) no matter what / how ~ 'Whatever happens, my decision stands' — the hard, determined version of いくら〜ても.
- 2 〜(よ)うと〜まいと ~(y)ō to ~mai to whether ~ or not (it makes no difference) Put the 'yes' and the 'no' side by side — either way, the outcome is the same.
- 3 〜であれ ~de are even if it is ~ / whoever, whatever After one noun or after 'who, what, what kind' — a stiff way to say 'whatever it is, the rule is the same'.
- 4 〜たところで ~ta tokoro de even if you ~, (it's no use) 'What's the point? It won't make a difference' — even if you do it, the result is small or useless.
- 5 〜ば〜で ~ba ~de if ~, then that brings its own trouble The same word twice — 'even when it turns out that way, it's not as easy (or as bad) as you'd think'.
- 6 〜としたところで ~to shita tokoro de even supposing ~ (it makes no difference) 'Suppose that did happen — it still wouldn't be enough' — としても with a sigh added.
- 7 〜にしたところで ~ni shita tokoro de even for ~ / ~ is no different 'You think it's different for them? They're in the same boat' — refusing to treat someone or something as the exception.
- 8 〜ずとも ~zu tomo even without ~ing The old, stiff form of なくても — 'it's fine (or clear) even without doing it'.
- 9 いかなる〜 ikanaru ~ whatever ~ / any ~ at all The formal どんな — contracts, rules and official statements: 'no exceptions'.
Lesson check
All 9 forms of this lesson together — pick the right one from its look-alikes, the way the exam does. 6/8 completes the lesson.
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「親に何と＿＿＿、私は日本で働くと決めた。」— fill the blank.
💡 Hint:'Whatever they say, my decision stands' — a firm decision.
「何と言われようと」= whatever I'm told (the decision stands). たところで can't take a firm decision, ば〜で means 'its own trouble', ずとも = even without being told.
「雨が＿＿＿、明日の工事は予定どおり行います。」— which says 'whether it rains or not'?
💡 Hint:Both the 'yes' and the 'no' case together.
「降ろうと降るまいと」= rain or no rain, the work goes ahead. 降ったところで means 'it's no use', 降れば降ったで brings a new problem.
「今から＿＿＿、もう最終のバスには間に合わない。」— fill the blank.
💡 Hint:'Doing it is useless' — 〜ない follows.
「急いだところで〜ない」= even if you hurry, you won't make it. であれ doesn't attach to verbs; 急がずとも needs 'it's fine' after it.
「休みの日が多ければ＿＿＿、収入が減って困る。」— fill the blank.
💡 Hint:Repeat the same い-adj: 'that brings its own trouble'.
「多ければ多いで」= lots of days off is fine, but income drops. ば〜で repeats the same word + で.
「お客様が＿＿＿、同じように丁寧に対応してください。」— fill the blank.
💡 Hint:Question word + 'whoever it is'.
「だれであれ」= whoever it is, the rule is the same. にしたところで and としたところで don't give this meaning with a question word; ずとも goes only on verbs.
「部下ばかり責めるが、課長＿＿＿、ミスがないわけではない。」— which says 'he's no exception'?
💡 Hint:Straight after a person noun.
N + にしたところで = ~ is no exception either. ずとも attaches only to verbs (言わずとも), たところで only to a verb in た-form, and なら課長で is the 「ば〜で」 "its own trouble" pattern.
「長く一緒に暮らしていれば、＿＿＿相手の気持ちは分かる。」— fill the blank.
💡 Hint:'You know even without saying' — a good result follows.
「言わずとも分かる」= understood without being said. たところで and としたところで need a negative result; ば〜で brings trouble.
「＿＿＿場合も、非常口の前に物を置かないでください。」— fill the blank.
💡 Hint:The formal 'any' that sits right before the noun 場合.
「いかなる場合も」= in any case at all. いかに doesn't go before a noun; 何であれ and どうあれ come after a noun, not before it.
Your score: /8