JLPT N2Spoken and writtenDetermined

てでもeven if I have to

Getting something may take an extreme step: borrowing, staying up all night, quitting your job. てでも is your own resolve to use that extreme means: "even if I have to".

高たかい違い約やく金きんを払はらってでも、この契けい約やくから抜ぬけたい。

I want to get out of this contract even if I have to pay a large penalty.

何なにをしてでも真しん相そうを明あきらかにしたい。

I want to uncover the truth, whatever it takes.

How to form it

Verb in the て-form + でも + will, wish or duty

A て-form that ends in で gives ででも: 並ならんで → 並ならんででも.

Before it: A means with a real cost: 借しゃっ金きんして, 徹てつ夜やして, 仕し事ごとを休やすんで, 無む理りをして.
After it: Will, a wish or a duty: 〜たい, 〜つもりだ, 〜なければならない, or a flat 行いく, やる.
With a question word: "Whatever it takes": 何なにをしてでも, どんな手てを使つかってでも.
Tone: Forceful. Your mind is made up.

In use

締しめ切きりに間まに合あわせるためには、徹てつ夜やしてでも原げん稿こうを仕し上あげなければならない。

To meet the deadline, I have to finish the manuscript even if it means staying up all night.

何なん時じ間かん並ならんででも、この切きっ符ぷを手てに入いれたい。

I want to get this ticket, however many hours I have to stand in line.

彼かれは借しゃっ金きんしてでも自じ分ぶんの店みせを持もつつもりだ。

He intends to have his own shop even if he has to go into debt.

Someone else's resolve, with つもりだ.

てまで or てでも?

借しゃっ金きんしてまで買かいたくない。

I don't want it enough to go into debt for it.

The means is too much, and you refuse it.

借しゃっ金きんしてでも買かいたい。

I want it even if I have to go into debt for it.

The means is the price, and you'll pay it.

Not a plain "even if"

徹てつ夜やしても、間まに合あわないだろう。

Even if I stay up all night, I probably won't make it.

ても: staying up changes nothing.

徹てつ夜やしてでも、間まに合あわせる。

I'll make it, even if I have to stay up all night.

てでも: staying up is the price, and you'll pay it.

After てでも comes what you mean, want or have to do. What simply happens, or doesn't, takes ても.

Close neighbours

てまで・までしてN2

てまで looks at an extreme means and usually doubts or refuses it. てでも is your own resolve to use one, so will, a wish or a duty follows.

友ゆう人じんを裏うら切ぎってまで、昇しょう進しんしたいとは思おもわない。

I don't want a promotion badly enough to betray a friend for it.

ても・でもN4

The everyday "even if": it happens, and the result is the same anyway.

雨あめが降ふっても、試し合あいは予よ定ていどおり行おこないます。

Even if it rains, the match will go ahead as scheduled.

Check yourself

1What does this mean?

彼かの女じょは仕し事ごとを辞やめてでも、留りゅう学がくするつもりだ。

Choose an answer to see why.

2Which one fits?

薬くすりを（　　）、熱ねつが下さがらない。

Choose an answer to see why.

More sentences

留りゅう学がくするためなら、車くるまを売うってでも資し金きんを作つくりたい。

If it's for studying abroad, I want to raise the money even if I have to sell my car.

必ひつ要ようなら、休きゅう学がくしてでも研けん究きゅうを完かん成せいさせる。

If necessary, I'll finish this research even if it means taking a leave of absence.

どんな手てを使つかってでも、期き限げんまでに証しょう拠こを見みつけなければならない。

We have to find the evidence by the deadline, whatever it takes.