たとえ〜ても
tatoe temo
By Nihongo PathUpdated
Meaning
"even if ~", "no matter ~" — a hypothetical concession.
たとえ at the front signals that what follows is hypothetical, and 〜ても carries the concession. The result does not change whatever happens.
Declaring that a decision or outcome holds regardless of conditions.
Formation
V = verb, N = noun, A = adjective.
たとえ + V-て + もたとえ + い-adj stem + くてもたとえ + な-adj / N + でも
Visual diagram
- たとえsignals a hypothetical concession
- 雨が降っobstacle
- ても、even if
- 試合は行います。result unchanged
Natural examples
たとえ雨が降っても、試合は行います。
たとえあめがふっても、しあいはおこないます。
Even if it rains, we'll hold the match.
たとえ高くても、この本は買いたい。
たとえたかくても、このほんはかいたい。
Even if it's expensive, I want to buy this book.
たとえ冗談でも、そんなことを言ってはいけない。
たとえじょうだんでも、そんなことをいってはいけない。
Even as a joke, you mustn't say such a thing.
たとえ両親が反対しても、彼と結婚する。
たとえりょうしんがはんたいしても、かれとけっこんする。
Even if my parents object, I'm marrying him.
Similar grammar and the difference
"Even supposing": attaches to a plain clause; more hypothetical and formal. Compare side by side
"Even if / even though": admits a fact and then objects. Compare side by side
〜のに
"Although" for a real, present fact, not a hypothesis.
Common mistakes
- ✗
- たとえば雨が降っても、試合は行います。
- ✓
- たとえ雨が降っても、試合は行います。
- Why
- たとえば means "for example"; the concession word is たとえ.
- ✗
- たとえ雨が降るのに
- ✓
- たとえ雨が降っても
- Why
- たとえ pairs with ても, not のに.
- ✗
- たとえ高いても
- ✓
- たとえ高くても
- Why
- い-adjectives use くても.
たとえ makes the concession explicitly hypothetical. Related: どんなに〜ても, いくら〜ても. Do not confuse with たとえば (for example). たとえ can be dropped without changing the grammar; it just makes the concession clearer.
JLPT N3 tips
On the exam
- たとえ at the start of a sentence means the blank later is a ても form.
- たとえば is the number one distractor; check whether "for example" makes sense (it doesn't before ても).
- In 並べ替え, place たとえ first, the て-form + も in the middle, and the unchanged result last.
Frequently asked questions
What does たとえ〜ても mean?
"even if ~", "no matter ~" — a hypothetical concession. たとえ at the front signals that what follows is hypothetical, and 〜ても carries the concession. The result does not change whatever happens.
How do you form たとえ〜ても?
たとえ + V-て + も / たとえ + い-adj stem + くても / たとえ + な-adj / N + でも. V = verb, N = noun, A = adjective.
When is たとえ〜ても used?
Declaring that a decision or outcome holds regardless of conditions.
What is the difference between たとえ〜ても and 〜としても?
"Even supposing": attaches to a plain clause; more hypothetical and formal.
What is the difference between たとえ〜ても and 〜にしても?
"Even if / even though": admits a fact and then objects.
What is a common mistake with たとえ〜ても?
Wrong: たとえば雨が降っても、試合は行います。 Right: たとえ雨が降っても、試合は行います。 たとえば means "for example"; the concession word is たとえ.
Quick check
（ ）どんなに忙しくても、毎日日本語を勉強する。