〜ても (Even if) | Japanese Grammar Documentation

What is 〜ても?

〜ても expresses concession or contrast, meaning "even if," "even though," or "no matter." It shows that the result doesn't change despite the condition.

雨が降っても、行きます
"Even if it rains, I'll go"

高くても、買いたい
"Even if it's expensive, I want to buy it"

どんなに頑張っても、できない
"No matter how hard I try, I can't do it"

Formation

Pattern: て-form + も

With verbs:

Verb	て-form	+ も
行く	行って	行っても
食べる	食べて	食べても
する	して	しても
来る	来て	来ても
読む	読んで	読んでも

With い-adjectives:

高い → 高くても (Even if it's expensive)
寒い → 寒くても (Even if it's cold)
良い → 良くても (Even if it's good)

With な-adjectives and nouns:

静か → 静かでも (Even if it's quiet)
学生 → 学生でも (Even if (you're) a student)
雨 → 雨でも (Even if it's rain)

Negative form:

行かなくても (Even if (you) don't go)
高くなくても (Even if it's not expensive)

Basic Usage

Expressing determination

雨が降っても、行く
"Even if it rains, I'll go"

疲れていても、頑張る
"Even if I'm tired, I'll try hard"

反対されても、やる
"Even if I'm opposed, I'll do it"

Showing contrast

高くても、欲しい
"Even if it's expensive, I want it"

遠くても、会いに行く
"Even if it's far, I'll go to see you"

難しくても、挑戦する
"Even if it's difficult, I'll challenge it"

Permission despite condition

分からなくても、大丈夫
"Even if you don't understand, it's okay"

失敗しても、気にしないで
"Even if you fail, don't worry about it"

下手でも、楽しければいい
"Even if you're bad at it, if it's fun, it's good"

Key Characteristics

Result doesn't change

The condition doesn't affect the result

雨が降っても、行く
Rain or not, I'm still going

Shows determination or unchanging result

Different from regular conditionals

Regular: 雨が降ったら、行かない
"If it rains, I won't go" (result changes)

ても: 雨が降っても、行く
"Even if it rains, I'll go" (result unchanged)

Opposite logic!

Common Conversations

Example 1: Showing Determination

A: 明日、雨らしいよ
   "I heard it'll rain tomorrow"

B: 雨が降っても、行くよ
   "Even if it rains, I'll go"

A: 本当に？
   "Really?"

Example 2: Giving Permission

A: まだ下手なんだけど...
   "I'm still not good at it..."

B: 下手でも、大丈夫だよ。楽しもう！
   "Even if you're not good, it's okay. Let's enjoy!"

A: ありがとう
   "Thank you"

Example 3: Expressing Limits

A: どうしてできないの？
   "Why can't you do it?"

B: どんなに頑張っても、無理なんだ
   "No matter how hard I try, it's impossible"

Common Mistakes

Mistake 1: Confusing with たら

たら: 雨が降ったら、行かない
"If it rains, I won't go" (condition affects result)

ても: 雨が降っても、行く
"Even if it rains, I'll go" (result unchanged)

Opposite meanings!

Mistake 2: Wrong て-form

Wrong: 行きても ❌
Right: 行っても ✓
"Even if (you) go"

Use correct て-form!

Mistake 3: Using です before も

Wrong: 学生ですても ❌
Right: 学生でも ✓
"Even if (you're) a student"

Use で, not です!

ても vs たら Comparison

たら - Condition affects result

安かったら、買う
"If it's cheap, I'll buy it"

Price matters

ても - Condition doesn't affect result

高くても、買う
"Even if it's expensive, I'll buy it"

Price doesn't matter

Expressing "No Matter"

どんなに～ても

どんなに頑張っても、できない
"No matter how hard I try, I can't do it"

どんなに説明しても、分からない
"No matter how much I explain, they don't understand"

どんなに待っても、来ない
"No matter how long I wait, they don't come"

いくら～ても

いくらお金があっても、幸せとは限らない
"No matter how much money you have, you're not necessarily happy"

いくら練習しても、上手にならない
"No matter how much I practice, I don't improve"

何度～ても

何度やっても、失敗する
"No matter how many times I do it, I fail"

何度読んでも、面白い
"No matter how many times I read it, it's interesting"

WH-word + ても (No matter WH)

誰でも (whoever/anyone)

誰でも参加できます
"Anyone can participate"

誰が来ても、大丈夫
"Whoever comes, it's okay"

何でも (whatever/anything)

何でも食べます
"I'll eat anything"

何を言っても、無駄だ
"Whatever you say, it's useless"

どこでも (wherever/anywhere)

どこでも行きます
"I'll go anywhere"

どこに行っても、人がいる
"Wherever I go, there are people"

いつでも (whenever/anytime)

いつでも連絡して
"Contact me anytime"

いつ来ても、歓迎します
"Whenever you come, you're welcome"

どうしても (no matter what)

どうしても行きたい
"I want to go no matter what"

どうしても分からない
"I don't understand no matter what"

Negative ても

Even if not

行かなくても、大丈夫
"Even if you don't go, it's okay"

食べなくても、平気
"Even if I don't eat, I'm fine"

勉強しなくても、合格した
"Even though I didn't study, I passed"

Permission Patterns

～てもいい (May/can)

食べてもいいですか
"May I eat?"

ここに座ってもいい？
"Can I sit here?"

Related but different meaning from concessive ても!

Expressing Unchanging State

Despite changes

季節が変わっても、ここは暖かい
"Even if seasons change, it's warm here"

年を取っても、元気だ
"Even though I've gotten old, I'm healthy"

時間が経っても、忘れない
"Even if time passes, I won't forget"

Showing Strong Will

Determination

誰が反対しても、やる
"Even if anyone opposes, I'll do it"

どんなに大変でも、諦めない
"No matter how hard it is, I won't give up"

失敗しても、もう一度挑戦する
"Even if I fail, I'll challenge again"

Expressing Futility

No point in doing

いくら言っても、聞かない
"No matter how much I say, they don't listen"

何度説明しても、理解してくれない
"No matter how many times I explain, they don't understand"

どれだけ探しても、見つからない
"No matter how much I search, I can't find it"

Limits and Restrictions

Maximum limits

多くても10人
"At most 10 people"

高くても1万円
"At most 10,000 yen"

遅くても9時まで
"By 9 o'clock at the latest"

Contrast with Reality

Contrary expectations

頑張っても、だめだった
"Even though I tried hard, it was no good"

練習しても、上達しない
"Even though I practice, I don't improve"

Contrast with what you'd expect

たとえ～ても (Even if/though)

Emphatic form

たとえ失敗しても、後悔しない
"Even if I fail, I won't regret it"

たとえ一人でも、やる
"Even if I'm alone, I'll do it"

More emphatic than just ても

Common Set Phrases

いくら～ても～ない

いくら待っても来ない
"No matter how long I wait, they don't come"

どんなに～ても～ない

どんなに頑張ってもできない
"No matter how hard I try, I can't"

何度～ても

何度やっても同じ
"No matter how many times I do it, it's the same"

Practice Sentences

Basic

雨が降っても、行きます
"Even if it rains, I'll go"

高くても、買いたい
"Even if it's expensive, I want to buy it"

疲れていても、頑張る
"Even if I'm tired, I'll try hard"

Intermediate

どんなに忙しくても、家族の時間は大切にしたい
"No matter how busy I am, I want to cherish family time"

何度失敗しても、諦めずに挑戦し続けます
"No matter how many times I fail, I'll keep challenging without giving up"

たとえ一人でも、この夢を追いかける
"Even if I'm alone, I'll chase this dream"

Advanced

いくらお金を稼いでも、健康でなければ
意味がない。だから、無理をしてまで
働くべきではないと思う。
"No matter how much money you earn, if you're not healthy
it's meaningless. Therefore, I think you shouldn't
work to the point of overdoing it."

どんなに時代が変わっても、人と人との
つながりは大切だ。テクノロジーが発達しても、
この基本は変わらないだろう。
"No matter how times change, connections between people
are important. Even if technology advances,
this fundamental truth probably won't change."

〜たって - Even if (casual)
〜ても - Concessive conditional
〜てもいい - May/can (permission)
たとえ〜ても - Even if (emphatic)
Conditionals - All conditional forms
Concession - Expressing contrast

What is 〜ても?

Formation

Pattern: て-form + も

Basic Usage

Expressing determination

Showing contrast

Permission despite condition

Key Characteristics

Result doesn't change

Different from regular conditionals

Common Conversations

Example 1: Showing Determination

Example 2: Giving Permission

Example 3: Expressing Limits

Common Mistakes

Mistake 1: Confusing with たら

Mistake 2: Wrong て-form

Mistake 3: Using です before も

ても vs たら Comparison

たら - Condition affects result

ても - Condition doesn't affect result

Expressing "No Matter"

どんなに～ても

いくら～ても

何度～ても

WH-word + ても (No matter WH)

誰でも (whoever/anyone)

何でも (whatever/anything)

どこでも (wherever/anywhere)

いつでも (whenever/anytime)

どうしても (no matter what)

Negative ても

Even if not

Permission Patterns

～てもいい (May/can)

Expressing Unchanging State

Despite changes

Showing Strong Will

Determination

Expressing Futility

No point in doing

Limits and Restrictions

Maximum limits

Contrast with Reality

Contrary expectations

たとえ～ても (Even if/though)

Emphatic form

Common Set Phrases

いくら～ても～ない

どんなに～ても～ない

何度～ても

Practice Sentences

Basic

Intermediate

Advanced

Related Grammar Points