てまで・
Getting something would take an extreme step: lying, borrowing, ruining your health. てまで looks at that extreme means and usually doubts or refuses it. After a noun it is までして.
I don't want a promotion badly enough to betray a friend for it.
He went so far as to borrow money to open a small workshop.
After a verb
Verb in the て-form + まで
うそをついて → うそをついてまで.
After a noun
Noun + までして
A noun that goes with する: 借金までして, 徹夜までして. 借金してまで says the same. そこまでして is "going that far".
- Before it
- A means that costs too much: うそをついて, 借金して, 体を壊して, 仕事を辞めて.
- After it
- Usually a refusal or a doubt, "not at that price": 〜たくない, 〜とは思わない, 〜つもりはない, 〜のか. Or what someone really did, told with amazement.
- Where you'll meet it
- Conversation and writing alike.
In use
That place is popular, but I don't want to eat there badly enough to stand in line.
The means doesn't have to be dramatic. It is more than the goal is worth to you.
Do you want to win that badly?
About what someone has just done, or says they'll do.
She went so far as to cut back on sleep to keep her research going.
No refusal here. She really went that far, and the sentence marvels at it.
てまで or てでも?
I don't want it enough to go into debt for it.
The means is too much, and you refuse it.
I want it even if I have to go into debt for it.
The means is the price, and you'll pay it.
Close neighbours
てでも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.
I want to uncover the truth, whatever it takes.
までN4
The same まで after a noun: "even", the last one you'd expect.
My little brother, who hates vegetables, even ate the green peppers.
Check yourself
1What does this mean?
仕事を
Choose an answer to see why.
2Which one fits?
弟は
Choose an answer to see why.
More sentences
I have no intention of working at the expense of my health.
Is moving to this town worth going so far as to change jobs?
He went so far as to give up a secure job to chase a dream he had held for years.