たとえ～ても・
たとえ goes in front of a ても sentence and says from the first word that an "even if" is coming. It makes the case a supposition: imagine this happens, and still nothing changes.
Even if everyone in the world laughs at me, I will not give up on my dream.
How to form it
たとえ + … ても／でも
The ending is the ordinary ても: 降っても, 悪くても, 冗談でも, 来なくても. たとえば, with a ば, is a different word: "for example".
- Without it
- The sentence is still complete.
- After it
- What holds anyway: a decision, a promise, a principle.
- The case
- Often an extreme one: the whole world laughs, it takes a hundred years.
- Where you'll meet it
- Speech and writing: promises, speeches, song lyrics.
In use
Even if it takes a hundred years, I want to solve this mystery.
Even as a joke, it isn't right to say things in a way that hurts people.
Even if I don't get a reply, I'll get in touch again tomorrow.
Two things to know
It ends in ても, not たら
English "even if" has an "if" in it, so it is tempting to end on たら. たとえ needs an "even if" ending: ても or でも.
If it rains, the match is off.
もし opens an "if".
Even if it rains, the match will be held.
たとえ opens an "even if".
It supposes
ても alone can also be "even though", about something that really happened. With たとえ in front you are supposing, so it can't report what happened.
Not said: たとえ薬を
(Even though I took the medicine, my fever didn't go down.)
It happened, so there is no たとえ: 薬を飲んでも、熱が下がりませんでした.
Close neighbours
ても・でもN4
The plain form, with all its endings. It is "even if" and "even though".
Even though I read the manual, I could not understand how to use it.
"No matter how": not one supposed case but every degree of something.
No matter how busy I am, I always eat breakfast.
もし・もしもN3
The front word for a plain "if". もしも is もし with more weight.
If there should be a big earthquake, get under a desk first.
としてもN2
Grants a point for the sake of argument: "even supposing that". たとえ often goes in front of it too.
Even if it costs a little more, I want to choose a product that will last.
Check yourself
1Which one fits?
たとえ親に
Choose an answer to see why.
2Which sentence sounds natural?
Choose an answer to see why.
More detail
With a question word it is "no matter what".
Whatever happens, I will keep my promise.
More sentences
Even an expert can make mistakes.
Even if the result is poor, there is value in having tried.
Even if you fail once, you can change your approach and try again.
Even if the odds are against me, I won't give up until the end.