Mastering ‘ても構わない’ (te mo kamawanai): Granting Permission and Expressing Acceptability (JLPT N3)

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Mastering ‘ても構わない’ (te mo kamawanai): Granting Permission and Expressing Acceptability (JLPT N3)
Meaning & Usage

✨ Basic Meaning

“It doesn’t matter if…”, “It’s fine to…”, “You may…”

🎯 Primary Function

To indicate that a certain action or condition is acceptable, permissible, or that the speaker is indifferent to it.

📋 Grammar Structure

動詞て形 + も構わない (どうし てけい + もかまわない)
い形容詞のいを取って + くても構わない (例: 難しくても構わない)
な形容詞 + でも構わない (例: 静かでも構わない)
V-ない形 + くても構わない (例: 行かなくても構わない)

🎭 Usage Contexts

🏢 Formal Situations

Used by adding 「かまいません」 to maintain a moderate level of politeness, particularly in giving instructions or responding to requests.

😊 Informal Situations

「てもいい」 is generally preferred. 「ても構わない」 (plain form) is used but can sound a little more reserved or blunt than 「てもいい」.

✍️ Written Language

Used in rulebooks, signs, or formal communications to indicate permissible actions.

🗣️ Spoken Language

Common when clearly granting permission or expressing that a potential issue is not a problem.

💡 Common Applications

Granting Permission
Used by a person of authority or position (e.g., a teacher, supervisor) to clearly allow an action, serving as a slightly more formal alternative to 「てもいい」.
Example: この部屋に入っても構いません。 (You may enter this room.)
Expressing Acceptability/Indifference
Used to indicate that a specific condition or choice is acceptable to the speaker, often implying indifference or lack of concern.
Example: 結果がどうであっても構わない。 (I don’t mind what the result is.)
Formalizing Questions for Permission
Used when asking for permission in a relatively polite and reserved manner, often using the polite negative form: 「かまいませんか」.
Example: 先に帰っても構いませんか？ (Is it alright if I leave first?)
📊
Frequency
Moderate (Common in semi-formal or clear-cut instructions)
🎚️
Difficulty
Intermediate (JLPT N3)
Tag:

Related Kanji

JLPT N3 Kanji List

Related Vocabulary

JLPT N3 Vocabulary List
Example Sentences
Example #1
会議に遅れても構いませんか？
Furigana: かいぎに おくれても かまいませんか？
Romaji: Kaigi ni okurete mo kamaimasen ka?
English: Is it alright if I am late for the meeting?
Example #2
宿題は明日出しても構わない。
Furigana: しゅくだいは あした だしても かまわない。
Romaji: Shukudai wa ashita dashite mo kamawanai.
English: It’s fine if you hand in the homework tomorrow.
Example #3
値段が高くても、品質が良ければ構いません。
Furigana: ねだんが たかくても、ひんしつが よければ かまいません。
Romaji: Nedan ga takakute mo, hinshitsu ga yokereba kamaimasen.
English: Even if the price is high, it’s acceptable as long as the quality is good.
Example #4
経験不足でも、やる気があれば構いません。
Furigana: けいけんぶそくでも、やるきが あれば かまいません。
Romaji: Keiken busoku de mo, yaruki ga areba kamaimasen.
English: It doesn’t matter if you lack experience, as long as you have motivation.
Example #5
このペンを使っても構わないでしょうか？
Furigana: この ペンを つかっても かまわないでしょうか？
Romaji: Kono pen o tsukatte mo kamawanai deshou ka?
English: Would it be alright if I use this pen?
Example #6
私のことは気にしなくても構いません。
Furigana: わたしのことは きに しなくても かまいません。
Romaji: Watashi no koto wa ki ni shinakute mo kamaimasen.
English: You don’t have to worry about me; it’s fine.
Example #7
試験中は辞書を使っても構いません。
Furigana: しけんちゅうは じしょを つかっても かまいません。
Romaji: Shikenchū wa jisho o tsukatte mo kamaimasen.
English: During the test, you may use a dictionary.
Example #8
コーヒーでも紅茶でも、どちらでも構いません。
Furigana: コーヒーでも こうちゃでも、どちらでも かまいません。
Romaji: Kōhī de mo kōcha de mo, dochira de mo kamaimasen.
English: Coffee or tea, either one is fine (it doesn’t matter which).
Example #9
ここで写真を撮っても構いませんよ。
Furigana: ここで しゃしんを とっても かまいませんよ。
Romaji: Koko de shashin o totte mo kamaimasen yo.
English: You are allowed to take pictures here.
Example #10
サイズはMでもLでも構わない。
Furigana: サイズは エムでも エルでも かまわない。
Romaji: Saizu wa emu de mo eru de mo kamawanai.
English: The size can be M or L; either is acceptable.
Notes & Nuances

📌 Important Points

The root meaning is “It doesn’t concern me.”
The verb 構う (kamau) literally means “to mind” or “to care about.” Therefore, 構わない means “I don’t care about it” or “it won’t cause concern,” thereby granting permission.
Example: 先生に質問しても構いません。
Can be used to express optionality (V-なくても構わない).
The pattern can be used with the negative V-なくても form (V-nakute mo) to indicate that an action is unnecessary or optional (“you don’t have to”).
Example: 宿題は出さなくても構いません。
Ideal for expressing indifference or lack of preference.
This pattern is frequently used to express indifference or lack of preference between two or more options (AでもBでも構わない).
Example: どちらの案でも構いません。

⚠️ Common Mistakes

❌ Overusing 「ても構わない」 in casual conversations with friends.
✅ Use 「てもいい」 or 「てもよろしい」.
While 「ても構わない」 grants permission, overuse in casual settings can sound unnecessarily distant or reserved. 「てもいい」 is friendlier.
❌ Confusing the meaning with “must not.”
✅ Use 「てはいけない」 (prohibition) or 「てはだめだ」 (strong prohibition).
「ても構わない」 means “you may,” not “you must not.” Using it to deny permission is incorrect.
❌ Using the plain form 「構わない」 with superiors.
✅ Use 「てもかまいません」 for standard politeness.
The plain form 「構わない」 can sound abrupt or like talking down to the listener in a formal or public setting.

🏛️ Cultural Context

Politeness Level: Moderate. The use of 「かまいません」 offers standard politeness, suitable for public announcements or professional interactions.
Social Situations: Often used in situations where a slight inconvenience is anticipated but is being dismissed (e.g., “Even if you are late, I don’t mind”). Used by seniors to juniors or in institutional settings.
Regional Variations: The structure itself is standard across Japan, though local dialects might use alternative verbs or particles for expressing permission in casual speech.

🔍 Subtle Differences

ても構わない (te mo kamawanai) vs. てもいい (te mo ii)
「てもいい」 is a general, friendly expression of permission. 「ても構わない」 is more formal or detached, focusing on the speaker’s lack of objection (“I won’t mind”).
When to use: Use 「ても構わない」 when you want to sound slightly more reserved, or when you are in a position of authority giving official permission.
ても構わない vs. ても差し支えない (te mo sashitsukaenai)
「ても差し支えない」 is much higher in formality and politeness, meaning “it will cause no inconvenience.” 「ても構わない」 is standard/moderate.
When to use: Use 「ても差し支えない」 in highly formal, written, or business contexts (e.g., official announcements or contracts).

📝 Conjugation Notes

The core verb 構う (kamau) is a Godan verb. It connects to the て-form of the main verb or adjective. The polite negative form, 構いません (kamaimasen), is the most common way to use this pattern in polite speech. The pattern is always followed by the negative (構わない/かまわない), which translates positively in the context of permission.

🔊 Pronunciation Tips

Ensure the ‘mo’ particle is smoothly connected to the V-te form. In 「かまわない」, the pitch usually falls on the second ‘ma’ (か**ま**わない). Use a slight pause before 「かまいません」 when asking a question (e.g., V-te mo, [pause] kamaimasen ka?).

🧠 Memory Tips

Relate 構わない to the English phrase “I don’t mind.” The full phrase ‘te mo kamawanai’ literally means ‘Even if [you do X], I don’t mind it,’ which translates to ‘You may do X.’

Other Grammar

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