Explanation

Used to express a hypothetical situation or a strong emphasis on a statement, indicating that even under certain circumstances or conditions, something will still hold true.

Personalized Lesson For You!

Key Formation

• たとえ + Verb/Adjective (conditional form) + も

  たとえ雨が降っても (Even if it rains)

• たとえ + Noun + が/でも

  たとえ世界が終わっても (Even if the world ends)

Example Sentences

• たとえ雨が降っても、私は行きます。

  Even if it rains, I will go.

  たとえあめがふっても、わたしはいきます。

  Tatoe ame ga futtemo, watashi wa ikimasu.

  Pronunciation

• たとえ何があっても、絶対に諦めません。

  No matter what happens, I will never give up.

  たとえなにがあっても、ぜったいにあきらめません。

  Tatoe nani ga attemo, zettai ni akiramenai.

  Pronunciation

• たとえ誰にも信じられなくても、私はあなたを信じます。

  Even if nobody believes you, I will believe in you.

  たとえだれにもしんじられなくても、わたしはあなたをしんじます。

  Tatoe dare ni mo shinjirarenakutemo, watashi wa anata o shinjimasu.

  Pronunciation

• たとえ世界が終わっても、僕らは生き抜く。 (Inspired by the movie 'The Day After Tomorrow')

  Even if the world ends, we will survive.

  たとえせかいがおわっても、ぼくらはいきぬく。

  Tatoe sekai ga owattemo, bokura wa ikinuku.

  Pronunciation

• たとえ辛いことがあっても、笑顔で頑張りましょう。

  Even if difficult things happen, let's do our best with a smile.

  たとえつらいことがあっても、えがおでがんばりましょう。

  Tatoe tsurai koto ga attemo, egao de ganbarimashou.

  Pronunciation

Usage Notes

Notes and Tips for JLPT students

Related Grammar, and what's the difference?

• たら (tara) - (N4)
  - Both たとえ～でも (tatoe~demo) and たら (tara) express hypothetical situations. However, たとえ～でも (tatoe~demo) emphasizes a more extreme or unlikely scenario, while たら (tara) is generally used for more realistic conditions.
• 仮に～としても (kari ni~toshite mo) - (N2)
  - Both たとえ～でも (tatoe~demo) and 仮に～としても (kari ni~toshite mo) express hypothetical situations. However, たとえ～でも (tatoe~demo) emphasizes a strong emphasis on a statement, while 仮に～としても (kari ni~toshite mo) focuses more on the idea of assuming or supposing something.
• せめて～だけでも (semete~dake demo) - (N2)
  - Both たとえ～でも (tatoe~demo) and せめて～だけでも (semete~dake demo) express a sense of a minimum or at least. However, たとえ～でも (tatoe~demo) emphasizes a hypothetical scenario even under extreme conditions, while せめて～だけでも (semete~dake demo) focuses on the expression of the minimum or absolute necessity in a situation.

Useful Vocabulary that appeared in this page

• * 雨 (あめ)rainPronunciation
• * 行く (いく)to goPronunciation
• * 何 (なに)whatPronunciation
• * 絶対 (ぜったい)absolutePronunciation
• * 諦める (あきらめる)to give upPronunciation
• * 誰 (だれ)whoPronunciation
• * 信じる (しんじる)to believePronunciation
• * 世界 (せかい)worldPronunciation
• * 終わる (おわる)to endPronunciation
• * 辛い (つらい)difficultPronunciation
• * 笑顔 (えがお)smilePronunciation
• * 頑張る (がんばる)to do one's bestPronunciation
• * 買う (かう)to buyPronunciation
• * 高い (たかい)expensivePronunciation
• * 安い (やすい)cheapPronunciation
• * 忙しい (いそがしい)busyPronunciation

Quiz

Which of the following means 'Even if it's expensive, I'll buy it'?

• たとえ高くても、買います。
• たとえ安くても、買います。
• たとえ忙しくても、買います。