〜ても / 〜でも
Even if 〜ても
Meaning
"Even if A, B" / "no matter if A". Indicates that B happens regardless of A. The result is often unexpected.
Formation
[verb te-form] + も / [noun/na-adj] でも / [i-adj 〜くて] も
Notes
Question words + ても make "no matter ~": いつても ("no matter when"), 誰でも ("anyone"). Different from the permission 〜てもいいです ("may I"), which is N5.
Examples
雨（あめ）が降（ふ）っても、行（い）きます。
Even if it rains, I'll go.
Breakdown
何度（なんど）失敗（しっぱい）しても、諦（あきら）めないでください。
No matter how many times you fail, don't give up. (何度〜ても)
Breakdown
高（たか）くても買（か）います。
Even if it's expensive, I'll buy it. (i-adj + ても)
Breakdown
雨（あめ）でも雪（ゆき）でも、試合（しあい）はやります。
Whether rain or snow, the game will be held.
Breakdown
いくら説明（せつめい）しても、わかってくれません。
No matter how much I explain, they don't understand.
Breakdown
急（いそ）いでも、間に合（まにあ）わないかもしれません。
Even if we hurry, we might not make it in time.
Breakdown
⚠️ Often confused with
〜と、〜
Conditional と (whenever / when)
Two uses: (1) natural/habitual consequence — "whenever A happens, B happens"; (2) discover...
〜ば
Conditional 〜ば (if / whenever)
A general conditional — "if A, then B". Formed from the hypothetical form (仮定形) of the...
〜たら
Conditional 〜たら (if / when / after)
The most versatile conditional. "If/when A happens, B". Formed from the ta-form stem + ら....
〜なら
Conditional 〜なら (if / given that)
A conditional based on the listener's stated or known information — "if it's the case that...
〜場合は
In case 〜場合は
"In the event that ~ / in the case that ~". Used to discuss what to do in a particular (of...
〜ないことには
Unless 〜ないことには
"Unless ~", "without first ~ing" — nothing can proceed until this happens.
〜としたら / 〜とすれば
Supposing 〜としたら
"Supposing ~", "if we assume ~" — reasoning from a hypothetical.
〜てからでないと
Not until 〜てからでないと
"Not until ~", "unless ~ is done first" — a precondition that must come first.
〜さえ〜ば
If only 〜さえ〜ば
"If only ~", "as long as just ~" — one sufficient condition.