Meaning & Usage
✨ Basic Meaning
Even if…, Even though…, No matter how/what…
🎯 Primary Function
To state that the consequence or result expressed in the main clause is inevitable and remains unchanged, regardless of the strong hypothetical or concessive condition introduced by ‘tatoe’.
📋 Grammar Structure
たとえ ＋ Verb て形 ＋ も
たとえ ＋ i-adjective stem (く) ＋ ても
たとえ ＋ na-adjective/Noun (で) ＋ も
たとえ ＋ Vない形 (なくて) ＋ も / たとえ ＋ i-Adj (くなくて) ＋ も
🎭 Usage Contexts
Formal Situations
Highly appropriate. It adds weight and sincerity to a firm statement or promise.
Informal Situations
Used less frequently, but acceptable when expressing a strong personal conviction or resolve to friends/family.
Written Language
Often found in persuasive writing, formal documents, essays, and literary works to emphasize a point.
Spoken Language
Common in serious discussions, debates, or when making definitive statements.
💡 Common Applications
Expressing Strong Resolve or Commitment
Used to declare that one’s intention or action will not be swayed by obstacles or hypothetical conditions.
Example: たとえ反対されても、私はこの計画を進めます。
Introducing Extreme or Highly Unlikely Conditions
Used to create a dramatic or hyperbolic conditional clause to emphasize the certainty or strength of the result.
Example: たとえ世界が敵になっても、私はあなたを守る。
Frequency
Moderate to High (Common in formal declarations, essays, and strong speech)
Difficulty
Intermediate (JLPT N3 / N2)
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Example Sentences
Example #1
たとえ失敗しても、また挑戦します。
Furigana: たとえしっぱいしても、またちょうせんします。
Romaji: Tatoe shippai shite mo, mata chōsen shimasu.
English: Even if I fail this time, I will try again.
Example #2
たとえ雨がひどくても、サッカーの試合は開催されます。
Furigana: たとえあめがひどくても、サッカーのしあいはかいさいされます。
Romaji: Tatoe ame ga hidokute mo, sakkā no shiai wa kaisai saremasu.
English: Even if it’s raining heavily, the soccer match will still be held.
Example #3
たとえ彼が忙しくても、いつも家族に呼びかけます。
Furigana: たとえかれがいそがしくても、いつもかぞくによびかけます。
Romaji: Tatoe kare ga isogashiku te mo, itsumo kazoku ni yobikakemasu.
English: Even if he is extremely busy, he always calls his family.
Example #4
たとえ道が困難でも、私たちは前に進まなければならない。
Furigana: たとえみちがこんなんでも、わたしたちはまえにすすまなければならない。
Romaji: Tatoe michi ga konnan de mo, watashitachi wa mae ni susumanakereba naranai.
English: Even if the path is difficult, we must move forward.
Example #5
たとえその噂が真実でも、私はまだ彼を信用します。
Furigana: たとえそのうわさがしんじつでも、わたしはまだかれをしんようします。
Romaji: Tatoe sono uwasa ga shinjitsu de mo, watashi wa mada kare o shin’yō shimasu.
English: Even if the rumor were true, I would still trust him.
Example #6
たとえ嫌いでも、野菜を食べてください。
Furigana: たとえきらいでも、やさいをたべてください。
Romaji: Tatoe kirai de mo, yasai o tabete kudasai.
English: Even if you hate it, please eat vegetables.
Example #7
たとえごく稀な可能性でも、それに備えなければならない。
Furigana: たとえごくまれなかのうせいでも、それにそなえなければならない。
Romaji: Tatoe goku mare na kanōsei de mo, sore ni sonaenakereba naranai.
English: Even if it is an extremely unlikely possibility, we must prepare for it.
Example #8
たとえ今謝らなくても、過去は変わりません。
Furigana: たとえいまあやまらなくても、かこはかわりません。
Romaji: Tatoe ima ayamaranakute mo, kako wa kawarimasen.
English: Even if I don’t apologize now, the past won’t change.
Example #9
たとえこの仕事が大変でも、最後までやり抜くつもりです。
Furigana: たとえこのしごとがたいへんでも、さいごまでやりぬくつもりです。
Romaji: Tatoe kono shigoto ga taihen de mo, saigo made yarinuku tsumori desu.
English: Even if this job is hard, I will see it through to the end.
Example #10
たとえ締め切りが明日でも、私たちは最善を尽くさなければならない。
Furigana: たとえしめきりがあしたでも、わたしたちはさいぜんをつくさなければならない。
Romaji: Tatoe shimekiri ga ashita de mo, watashitachi wa saizen o tsukusanakereba naranai.
English: Even if the deadline is tomorrow, we still have to do our best.
Notes & Nuances
📌 Important Points
The Role of たとえ
The addition of たとえ (tatoe) strengthens the condition and emphasizes the contrast. It highlights that the condition is a mere possibility that will not change the outcome.
Example: 大変でも、諦めないでください。 vs. たとえ大変でも、諦めないでください。
Fixed Consequence
The resulting clause (the main sentence) must express an unchanging fact, a strong decision, or an unchangeable consequence that defies the condition.
Example: たとえ彼が嘘をついても、私は許します。
⚠️ Common Mistakes
❌ たとえ遅れたらいいです。
✅ Use the ても form: たとえ遅れてもいいです。
The word たとえ must be paired with the concessive conditional form ～ても (or ～でも for nouns/na-adjectives). It cannot be used with simple conditionals like ～たら or ～ば.
❌ たとえ大変でも、何をしますか。
✅ The result should express certainty or a fixed outcome: たとえ大変でも、最後までやります。
The main clause following たとえ～ても must express a result that is certain, inevitable, or an unwavering resolve. It generally does not take questions or simple requests unless it’s a strongly phrased command.
🏛️ Cultural Context
Politeness Level: Versatile. The politeness is determined by the final verb of the sentence (e.g., ます/です vs. plain form). The grammar pattern itself is neutral but often used in serious contexts.
Social Situations: Ideal for making promises, expressing strong personal opinions, or declaring commitment to a task in professional or personal settings.
Regional Variations: The structure is standard Japanese. No significant regional variations in usage or meaning exist.
🔍 Subtle Differences
たとえ～ても vs. ～ても
たとえ adds a level of hyperbole, emphasis, or extremity to the condition, suggesting the condition is particularly challenging or unlikely. ～ても is a simpler, milder concessive condition.
When to use: Use たとえ～ても when expressing strong resolve or dealing with an extreme hypothetical case. Use ～ても for everyday concessions.
たとえ～ても vs. どんなに～ても (donna ni ~te mo)
たとえ～ても focuses on the *scenario* or *specific condition*. どんなに～ても focuses on the *degree* or *amount* (‘no matter how much/many/well’).
When to use: Use どんなに when describing an intensity (e.g., “no matter how hard I try”). Use たとえ when describing a possible event (e.g., “even if I fail”).
📝 Conjugation Notes
The ‘て’ form conjugation rules are identical to the standard ～ても pattern. For i-adjectives, the final ‘い’ becomes ‘く’ (e.g., 難い -> 難くても). For na-adjectives and nouns, ‘だ’ is replaced by ‘で’ (e.g., 便利 -> 便利でも).
🔊 Pronunciation Tips
Pronounce ‘tatoe’ clearly with a slight emphasis on the first syllable. The pause between ‘tatoe’ and the conditional clause adds dramatic effect.
🧠 Memory Tips
Relate ‘たとえ’ (tatoe) to ‘example’ (例 – rei), imagining a dramatic, hypothetical *example* of a condition that still won’t change the result. ‘Even if (this example happens)…’
Other Grammar
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