Ways to say "even if" beyond ても
ても is the everyday "even if", and it is right in writing too. Most of the other forms say a little more: that you are granting a point, or that doing something would make no difference. とも adds only a firm, formal tone.
| Form | What it says | Where |
|---|---|---|
| としても | "Even supposing": it may or may not be so | Conversation and writing |
| にしても | "Granted, but even so": usually a point you accept | Conversation and writing |
| にしろ, にせよ | The same as に | Writing, formal speech |
| たところで | "Even if you did": it wouldn't help, or wouldn't matter much | Conversation and writing |
| にしたところで | "Even they can't": said of someone you'd expect to be the exception | Arguing a point |
| としたところで | "Even supposing so": it makes little difference | Arguing a point |
| にしたって, としたって | The two forms above, said casually | Conversation |
| とも | ても in a firm, formal tone | Essays, speeches, novels, song lyrics |
としても and にしても: granting a point
Full pageとしても・
としても and にしても grant a point and say it changes nothing. としても grants it for the sake of argument; にしても mostly grants something you take to be so. English often says "even if" for both.
Even supposing he is busy, he should at least be able to phone.
Maybe he is busy, maybe not. Suppose he is.
Granted he is busy, he should at least be able to phone.
You accept that he is busy. Even so.
In everyday talk plain ても covers both: 忙しくても、電話くらいはできるはずだ.
仮に (supposing) or たとえ often opens a としても sentence.
Even if the project falls a month behind, it can still be finished within the fiscal year.
Even if it costs a little more, I want to choose a product that will last.
Even if you are only being kind, I'm glad to hear it.
A noun keeps だ before としても.
にしても grants a fact, or a plan not yet decided (a day trip). What follows is mostly your own verdict, often a complaint.
However much of a hurry you were in, I wish you had said something.
Even if it was a joke, that was put far too harshly.
A noun has no だ before にしても.
Even if it is only a day trip, we need to leave by six in the morning.
にしろ is firmer, にせよ is written
にしろ and にせよ mean what にしても means. You meet にしろ in writing, in formal speech, and in everyday talk when someone is being firm.
It may be hard to carry out, but it is worth looking into.
Even if applications fall short of expectations, we cannot say at once that the scheme is not needed.
Said twice, it is "whether A or B".
Whether you are coming or not, please let us know by Friday.
Two set phrases with にしても
いずれにしてもin any case
In any case, let's talk it over again tomorrow.
In writing, いずれにせよ. Casually, どっちにしても.
それにしてもeven so; still
Of course it's hot: it's August. Still, today's heat is awful.
たところで: even if you did, it wouldn't help
Full pageたところでN1
たところで says that doing something wouldn't help, or wouldn't matter much, and the sentence usually ends in a negative. The action is only imagined: the た isn't past. "It wouldn't help" sounds resigned about your own chances, and discouraging about someone else's idea.
it wouldn't help
Apologizing now won't bring back the trust you lost, not straight away.
Often with 今さら (at this late stage) or どうせ (anyway).
it wouldn't matter
Even if we are a little late, it won't be a big problem.
Not resigned: it makes light of being late.
ても, としても or たところで?
All three can say that you won't make it in time.
Even if we run now, we won't make it.
The everyday way to say it.
Even if we ran now, we wouldn't make it.
Suppose we ran. Even then.
Even if we run now, we won't make it.
It sounds resigned.
After ても and としても any ending can come, but たところで itself says that running is no use.
Where たところで goes wrong
たところで is about something that hasn't happened. For something you did that didn't work, people say けど or ても.
Not said: 急いだ
(I hurried, but I didn't make the last train.)
急いだけど、間に合わなかった.
たところで can also mean "once", when the rest of the sentence says what happened next.
Even if everyone were here, nothing would get decided.
A negative verdict: "even if".
Once everyone was there, we started the meeting.
What happened next: "once".
にしたところで and としたところで: even then, it makes little difference
Full pageとしたところで・
にしたところで and としたところで end in たところで, so they too say that it makes little difference. A negative usually follows.
にしたところで follows a noun: someone or something you'd expect to be the exception. Even they can't.
Even the company president can't decide everything alone.
としたところで follows a supposition: even then, nothing would change.
Even if we put the deadline back a week, the underlying shortage of staff would not go away.
Both forms are for arguing a point, aloud or in writing. In conversation people say にしたって and としたって, where たって is the casual ても.
Even the best doctor can't cure every illness.
Even if that is true, it isn't enough evidence to overturn the current decision.
とも: ても in a firm, formal tone
Full pageともN2
とも is firm and a little grand: the tone of a vow, a principle or a motto. It follows the く form of an い-adjective, or a volitional (あろう, from ある).
Even if the road is steep, it is worth going on.
In everyday talk, 険しくても.
Whatever happens, I will keep this promise.
A vow, in writing or a speech.
Whatever happens, I will keep my promise.
The same promise, as you would say it.
In conversation とも is hardly ever heard outside a few fixed words: 少なくとも (at least), which everyone says, 遅くとも (at the latest) and 多くとも (at most).
It will take at least three days.
Other "even if" forms: （よ）うと, であれ, ずとも, といえども
（よ）うと・（よ）うがN1Written and spoken
The volitional with plain と or が in place of とも. People say these aloud when they won't budge.
No matter what anyone says, I will not change my testimony.
であれ・であろうとN1Written, formal
After a noun or a な-adjective: a firm, written "even if it is".
Even if my opponent is a child, I don't intend to go easy.
ずともN1Written, literary
とも after a verb's ず form: "even without doing", the written なくても.
My mother knew everything without my saying a word.
といえどもN1Written, formal
A stiff, written "even": no exception is made where you'd expect one.
Even a child has to follow the rules.