〜とて (~tote) — even (a ~) / even if
A stiff, written 'even' — 'that one is no exception either'.
Formula (सूत्र ढाँचा)
Grammar rule (व्याकरण नियम र परिभाषा)
When to use it
- Your boss says, 'You probably like doing overtime.' Inside you think: 「私とて、好きで残業しているわけではない」— 'Even I — yes, me — don't do overtime because I enjoy it.'
- It is stiff, slightly old language — for writing, speeches and serious talk.
Meaning
- N + 「とて」= 'even N (whom you'd expect to be different) is no exception'.
- It attaches to someone like 親・専門家・私 — 'surely they'd know / surely they're different' — and what follows says 'they can't either / they're the same'.
- A second use: Vた + 「とて」, just like Lesson 12's 「たところで」, 'even if you do it, it's no use' — 「今さら謝ったとて、許してはもらえない」.
How to attach
Attach it as N + 「とて」, or for a verb Vた + 「とて」.
Versus what you know
Lesson 10's 「といえども」(たとえ兄弟といえども) is close, but it is a stiff argument leaning on rank or status; 「とて」carries more of a heart's voice, 'I'm only human too'.
Watch out
The key rule: this is not a plain 'also' (も) — you can't say 「田中さんとてパーティーに来た」; what follows must always carry 'no exception / no use'.
Also
You may also meet 「からとて」= 「からといって」, 'just because'; Lesson 13's 「こととて」is a reason, not this.
Examples (उदाहरणहरू)
私とて、好きで毎晩残業しているわけではない。
わたしとて、すきでまいばんざんぎょうしているわけではない。
I am no exception — it is not as if I work overtime every night because I enjoy it.
How it is built (कसरी बन्यो) 私 = I (others assume "this one must like it") → we attach 「とて」 = even I → then 〜わけではない = "it's not that…" → I'm no exception either.
専門家とて、次の大地震がいつ来るかは予測できない。
せんもんかとて、つぎのだいじしんがいつくるかはよそくできない。
Even experts cannot predict when the next big earthquake will come.
How it is built (कसरी बन्यो) 専門家 = experts (who know the most) → 「とて」= even experts → then 予測できない = can't predict → they're no exception either.
今さら謝ったとて、壊れた信頼は元に戻らない。
いまさらあやまったとて、こわれたしんらいはもとにもどらない。
Even if you apologize now, broken trust won't go back to how it was.
How it is built (कसरी बन्यो) 今さら = now, at this late stage (it's already too late) → 謝る = to apologize → た-form: 謝った → 「とて」= even if you apologize → then 元に戻らない = won't go back → "no use", like 「たところで」.
Knowledge check (मिनी ज्ञान जाँच)
「いくら頼んだ＿＿、あの人は考えを変えないだろう。」— fill the blank.
💡 Hint: 'However much you ask, (it's no use)'.
Vた + とて = even if. 頼んだとて = even if you ask → 変えない follows. 「との」needs a noun after it, 「とは」is surprise or definition, 「やら」is 'some ~ or other' — none fits.
In which sentence is 「とて」unnatural?
💡 Hint: Is there a 'no exception' feeling, or just a plain 'also'?
とて is not a plain 'also'; what follows must say 'they can't either / they're the same'. For 'Tanaka came to the party too', use 「田中さんも」.
「子どもとて、うそをついていいわけではない」— which is closest in meaning to 「子どもとて」?
💡 Hint: Not a reason — 'even a child'.
N とて = N でも (even N). 「子どもだから」is a reason — don't confuse it with reason forms like 「こととて」. 「と一緒に」is 'together with' and 「によって」'depending on' — different meanings.
Your score: /3