JLPT N4EverydaySpoken and written

それでもeven so; still

それでも is "even so". What was just said is true, and it is a reason to stop or to expect something else. What comes next holds anyway.

医い者しゃには休やすむように言いわれた。それでも、彼かれは仕し事ごとに行いった。

The doctor told him to rest. Even so, he went to work.

How to form it

Sentence。それでも、+ what holds anyway

It starts a new sentence or a reply, often with a comma after it.

Before it: Something that stands in the way: bad weather, a high price, a warning, a failure.
After it: What is so, or what someone does, in spite of it. "Let's" and "I want to" can follow too.
Where you'll meet it: Conversation and writing alike, polite or casual.

In use

A

明日あしたはかなり混こむそうだよ。

I hear it'll be very crowded tomorrow.

B

それでも、行いってみたい。

Even so, I'd like to go and see.

外そとは大おお雪ゆきだった。それでも、店みせは営えい業ぎょうを続つづけた。

There was heavy snow outside. Even so, the shop stayed open.

時じ間かんはあまりない。それでも、最さい後ごまで確かく認にんしよう。

We don't have much time. Even so, let's check everything through to the end.

このかばん、高たかいけど、それでも欲ほしい。

This bag is expensive, but I still want it.

After けど it can sit inside one sentence.

それでもいい？

With いい, it checks that the other person still wants to, now that they know the drawback.

A

あの店みせ、一いち時じ間かんぐらい並ならぶよ。それでもいい？

There's about an hour-long line at that place. Are you still OK with that?

B

うん、いいよ。

Yeah, that's fine.

The first fact has to stand in the way

English "but" joins any two facts that differ. それでも needs the first to be a reason against the second.

Sounds odd: 家や賃ちんは安やすいよ。それでも、駅えきから遠とおいよ。

The rent is low. Even so, it is far from the station.

Low rent is no reason to expect a short walk.

家や賃ちんは安やすいよ。でも、駅えきから遠とおいよ。

The rent is low. But it is far from the station.

Two facts that differ: a plain "but".

Close neighbours

でもN5

Any "but" in conversation. Nothing has to stand in the way.

天てん気きはいいです。でも、風かぜが強つよいです。

The weather is nice. But the wind is strong.

てもN4

The same idea inside one sentence, on the end of a verb or an adjective: "even if", "even though".

雨あめが降ふっても、行いきます。

Even if it rains, I'll go.

それでN4

One kana shorter, and the opposite: "so". The first fact is the cause, not the obstacle.

店みせはもう閉しまっていました。それで、何なにも買かえませんでした。

The store was already closed, so I couldn't buy anything.

Check yourself

1Which one fits?

薬くすりを飲のんだ。（　　）、熱ねつは下さがらなかった。

Choose an answer to see why.

2Which sounds natural?

Choose an answer to see why.

More sentences

雨あめはまだ降ふっている。それでも、試し合あいは続つづいている。

It is still raining. Even so, the game is going on.

料りょう金きんは少すこし高たかいです。それでも、このホテルを予よ約やくします。

The price is a little high. Even so, I'll book this hotel.

店みせは駅えきから遠とおい。それでも、毎まい日にち多おおくの客きゃくが訪おとずれる。

The shop is a long way from the station. Even so, plenty of customers come every day.

準じゅん備びする時じ間かんはほとんどなかった。それでも、発はっ表ぴょうは成せい功こうした。

There was almost no time to prepare. Even so, the presentation went well.

何なん度ども断ことわられた。それでも、彼かの女じょは交こう渉しょうを続つづけた。

She was turned down again and again. Even so, she kept negotiating.

Compared with similar forms

Ways to say "but"