〜にせよ/〜にしろ

Even If/whether

Level 3Sounds Like niseyo/~nishiro

〜にせよ and 〜にしろ are formal ways to say 'even if' or 'whether... or...'. They acknowledge a situation but emphasize that the main point or result doesn't change regardless of that situation.

How It Works

This pattern is used to express that even if a certain condition is true, the following statement or opinion remains valid. It is frequently found in written reports, formal speeches, and news articles.

1. Single Usage:
When used alone, it means 'even if' or 'even granting that...'.
Example: 忙しいにせよ (Even if you are busy...)

2. Dual Usage (AにせよBにせよ):
When used in pairs, it means 'whether A or B'. It implies that in either case, the result is the same.
Example: 行くにせよ行かないにせよ (Whether you go or not...)

3. Usage with Question Words:
This pattern is frequently used with question words like 何 (なに), どこ, or いつ to mean 'no matter what/where/when'.
Common fixed phrases include:

  • いずれにせよ / いずれにしろ: In any case / anyway
  • 何にせよ: Whatever the case / at any rate

4. Conjugation Rules:

  • Verbs: Plain form (e.g., 行く、行った、行かない) + にせよ/にしろ
  • I-Adjectives: Plain form (e.g., 高い、高かった) + にせよ/にしろ
  • Na-Adjectives: Dictionary form (omit だ) or use である + にせよ/にしろ
  • Nouns: Noun (omit だ) or use である + にせよ/にしろ

Note: Unlike casual speech, you should not attach だ directly before にせよ (e.g., avoid 雨だにせよ; use 雨にせよ or 雨であるにせよ).

Examples (4)

  1. 忙しいにせよ、連絡ぐらいはすべきだ。

    Even if you are busy, you should at least contact me.

    Word by Word: Busy even if, contact at least should do.

    Here, にせよ concedes that the person might be busy, but asserts that the obligation to contact remains unchanged.

  2. 来るにしろ来ないにしろ、明日までに返事をください。

    Whether you are coming or not, please give me an answer by tomorrow.

    Word by Word: Come whether not come whether, by tomorrow answer please give.

    This uses the AにしろBにしろ pattern to show that the deadline for the answer applies regardless of the choice.

  3. たとえ冗談にしろ、そんなことを言ってはいけない。

    Even if it was a joke, you shouldn't say such things.

    Word by Word: Even if joke even if, such thing saying is no good.

    The word たとえ (even if) is often used at the start of the sentence to emphasize the concession.

  4. 結果がどうなるにせよ、全力を尽くしたことに変わりはない。

    Regardless of how the results turn out, the fact that we gave our best doesn't change.

    Word by Word: Result how become regardless, best did fact change is not.

    This demonstrates the use of a question word (どう) with にせよ to mean 'no matter how'.

Common Mistakes

  • Using the casual copula 'da' before the pattern.

    病気だにせよ、欠席届は必要です。
    病気にせよ、欠席届は必要です。

    In formal Japanese, the copula だ is dropped before 〜にせよ/〜にしろ. If you want to include a copula, use the formal である instead (e.g., 病気であるにせよ).

  • Using it in casual daily conversation.

    明日雨にしろ、買い物に行こうね。
    明日雨だとしても、買い物に行こうね。

    〜にしろ and 〜にせよ sound very stiff and literary. In casual conversation with friends, 〜ても or なら is more natural. Note that 〜といっても is used for clarification, not for this type of 'even if' condition.

How It Connects

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〜にせよ/〜にしろLevel 3Even If/whether

Learn This First

To understand 〜にせよ/〜にしろ, learners need to be familiar with the concept of concession (even if/whether). It is a formal expression that attaches to the plain form of verbs and adjectives, or directly to nouns. Understanding how the imperative forms of 'suru' are used to create conditional-like meanings is key to learning this pattern.

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Words in This Pattern

にせよにしろ