〜(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.
Formula (सूत्र ढाँचा)
Grammar rule (व्याकरण नियम र परिभाषा)
When to use it
- When you decide to come to Japan, relatives say: 'So far away, and all alone?'
- But you stand firm: 「周りに何と言われようと、私は行く」— whatever people say, I'm going.
- The language of speeches, news, essays and vows.
Meaning
- 「〜(よ)うと(も)」= the strong feeling 'even so, my decision or the outcome won't change'.
- After it always comes a 'not affected' clause — a decision, a rule or a fact that won't change: 〜つもりだ・〜てはいけない・変わらない.
How to attach
- Verb volitional form (行こう・言われよう) + 「と」or 「とも」
- い-adj drops 「い」and takes 「かろう」: 高かろうと
- な-adj and nouns take 「だろう／であろう」: 大企業であろうと
- In front you usually find 「たとえ・どんなに・いくら・何と・だれが」
- 「〜(よ)うが」works with exactly the same meaning.
Versus what you know
- N3It means the same as 「いくら〜ても・たとえ〜ても」, but 「ようと」sounds harder and more determined.
- Lesson 5's 「〜であろうと〜であろうと」set two things side by side; here one condition is enough.
Watch out
- Don't confuse it with 「行こうとする」(try to go) — there 「する」follows; here 「と」is followed by a comma and a new clause.
- It is not used when the condition really changed the result, like 'it rained, so the match was cancelled'.
Examples (उदाहरणहरू)
周りに何と言われようと、私は介護の仕事を続けるつもりだ。
まわりになにといわれようと、わたしはかいごのしごとをつづけるつもりだ。
Whatever people around me say, I intend to keep working in care.
How it is built (कसरी बन्यो) 言われる = to be told → make the 意向形: 言われよう → with 「何と」: 'whatever I'm told' → attach 「と」 → then my own stance: 続けるつもりだ.
外がどんなに寒かろうと、新聞配達は毎朝五時に始まる。
そとがどんなにさむかろうと、しんぶんはいたつはまいあさごじにはじまる。
However cold it is outside, newspaper delivery starts at five every morning.
How it is built (कसरी बन्यो) 寒い = cold → drop 「い」 and add 「かろう」: 寒かろう → 「どんなに」 gives 'however much' → attach 「と」 → then a fact that doesn't change: it starts at five.
たとえ大企業であろうとも、法律を守らなければ厳しく処分される。
たとえだいきぎょうであろうとも、ほうりつをまもらなければきびしくしょぶんされる。
Even a large corporation will be strictly punished if it doesn't obey the law.
How it is built (कसरी बन्यो) 大企業 = a large corporation (N) → attach 「であろう」 → 「たとえ」 gives 'even supposing it is ~' → 「とも」 = a stronger 「と」 → then the rule: it will be punished.
Knowledge check (मिनी ज्ञान जाँच)
「仕事がどんなに忙し＿＿＿、毎日日本語を三十分は勉強する。」— fill the blank.
💡 Hint: What is the volitional shape of an い-adj?
い-adj: drop 「い」, add 「かろう」+ と. 忙しかろうと = however busy.
In which sentence is 「〜(よ)うと」unnatural?
💡 Hint: Did the condition affect the result or not?
ようと needs a 'not affected' clause after it. The match was cancelled because of the rain — the rain did affect it, so it doesn't fit.
「彼が何を言おうと、私は気にしない。」— what does 「言おうと」mean here?
💡 Hint: No 「する」follows — a comma and a new clause do.
「言おうと、〜」= 言っても (whatever he says). Only 「言おうとする」would mean 'try to say'.
Your score: /3