Japanese from zero · N3 Lesson 19
No matter how
どんなに〜ても ・ いくら〜ても ・ たとえ〜ても ・ 〜たって ・ 〜にしても
In this lesson, you will learn to say that something stays true no matter what with どんなに〜ても and いくら〜ても, to suppose a case with たとえ〜ても, to say 'even if' casually with 〜たって, and to grant a point and add a condition with 〜にしても. It is September, a big typhoon is heading straight for the town, and the newspaper club makes an extra edition.
By the end you will be able to say
どんなに 大変でも、新聞は 出します。No matter how hard it is, we'll put out the paper.
いくら 勉強しても、この 漢字は 覚えられません。No matter how much I study, I can't remember this kanji.
たとえ 被害が 少なくても、備えて おく ことが 大事です。Even if the damage turns out small, it's important to be prepared.
雨が 降ったって 行くよ。I'm going even if it rains.
行くに しても、川の 近くには 行かないで ください。Even if you go, please stay away from the river.
The grammar in this lesson
- どんなに〜ても / いくら〜ても — no matter how — どんなに or いくら + a ても form says the result stays the same however far it goes.
- たとえ〜ても — even if — たとえ warns that a ても clause is coming and makes the 'even if' stronger.
- 〜たって — even if (casual) — 〜たって is the casual spoken form of 〜ても.
- 〜にしても — even if, granting that — Plain verb or noun + に しても grants one point and adds a condition or a doubt.