かりそめにも

か

り

そ

め

に

も

Meanings

adverb

(not) for a moment; (not) in the slightest; (not) under any circumstances

usually written using kana alone

Used with a negative predicate to strongly deny any possibility or degree. Emphasizes that something is absolutely not the case, even momentarily or to the smallest extent.

かりそめにも彼かれを疑うたがったことはない。

I have never doubted him for a moment.

かりそめにもそんなことは考かんがえられない。

I can't even imagine such a thing in the slightest.

adverb

at any rate; at the very least; putting everything else aside

usually written using kana alone

Used to set a minimum standard or to emphasize that even the most basic condition applies. Often implies that if nothing else, at least this much is true or should be done.

かりそめにも約やく束そくした以い上じょうは守まもるべきだ。
At the very least, once you've made a promise, you should keep it.
かりそめにも教きょう師しなら、そんなことは言いえない。
If you're a teacher at all, you can't say such a thing.

Kanji

仮sham, temporary, interim
初first time, beginning

Related words

少すこしも
少しも is a common negative polarity item meaning 'not at all', but lacks the emphatic 'even for a moment' nuance of かりそめにも.
決けっして
決して is a strong negative adverb meaning 'never', but かりそめにも adds a sense of 'even hypothetically' or 'even in the slightest case'.

Written forms

仮かり初そめにも
Kanji form with standard okurigana; rarely used.
仮かり初そめにも
irregular okurigana
Irregular okurigana variant; very rare.

Etymology

Derived from 仮初め (かりそめ, 'temporary, trivial') + に + も, literally 'even in a trivial/temporary manner'. The adverbial phrase developed emphatic negative and minimal-standard uses.