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JLPT N3 · Conditionals (if / when)

たとえ～ても (tatoe~temo)

たとえ～ても — “even if ～”

In short · たとえ is placed before a ～ても clause to strengthen “even if ～.” You suppose an extreme or unfavorable condition and say that the result will not change. The speaker often expresses strong will, belief or judgment.
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Pattern

  • たとえ ＋ 動詞て形 ＋ も たとえ + verb te-form + も (失敗しても, 降っても)
  • たとえ ＋ 形容詞くても／名詞でも たとえ + い-adj くても / noun or な-adj でも (遠くても)

Meaning and connection

ても alone already means “even if / even though.” たとえ is an adverb that emphasizes that the condition is only an assumption. The forms are the usual ones: verb てform + も (食べても), い-adjective くても, noun / な-adjective でも.

What follows

The second part says that the result stays the same: a will (後悔しません), a fact that holds (試合は行われる) or a plan (通うつもりだ). Strong statements work best.

Notes

たとえ is often paired with ても only, not with ので or から. It can be dropped without changing the grammar, but it makes the feeling stronger. The related どんなに〜ても (no matter how much) stresses degree.

Examples

  • たとえ失敗（しっぱい）しても、後悔（こうかい）しません。

    Tatoe shippai shite mo, kōkai shimasen.

    Even if I fail, I won't regret it.

  • たとえ雨（あめ）が降（ふ）っても、試合（しあい）は行（おこな）われる。

    Tatoe ame ga futte mo, shiai wa okonawareru.

    Even if it rains, the match will be held.

  • たとえ道（みち）が遠（とお）くても、歩（ある）いて通（かよ）うつもりだ。

    Tatoe michi ga tōkute mo, aruite kayou tsumori da.

    Even if the road is long, I intend to commute on foot.

Common mistakes

  • Do not use it with a real, already-happened fact. たとえ is for an assumption (not 昨日たとえ雨が降っても).
  • Do not combine it with ので or から. Always end the condition with ても / でも.

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