Japanese grammar
What does ～ても mean? Japanese grammar N4
～ても means even if ~, although ~.
| Level (estimated, JLPT framework) | N4 |
|---|---|
| Structure | V て + も、～ A い → くても、～ N／A な + でも、～ question word + V ても、～ |
| Romaji | ~ te mo |
| Meaning | even if ~, although ~ |
Forming it
| Verb | て form + も: 行く → 行って → 行っても、食べる → 食べて → 食べても |
|---|---|
| Negative | V ない → なくても: 行かない → 行かなくても |
| i-adjective | Drop い and add くても: 高い → 高くても (exception: いい → よくても) |
| Noun / na-adjective | + でも: 学生でも、便利でも |
| Combined with question words | いくら／どんなに／何を + V ても — "no matter how much／however ~" |
How to use it
Stating a reverse/concessive condition — the result still happens despite that condition.
- ても is a "reverse condition": normally A would lead to not-B, but in reality B still happens. 「雨が降っても、行きます」— if it rains you'd normally stay home, but I'll still go.
- The conjugation is very easy to remember: take the て form and add も. Since you already know the て form from N5, there's no need to learn a new table. For i-adjectives, go through the くて form → くても.
- Very often combined with question words to emphasize "no matter what": 「いくら食べても、太りません」(no matter how much I eat, I don't gain weight), 「何を言っても、彼は聞きません」(no matter what you say, he won't listen), 「どんなに難しくても、諦めません」(no matter how hard it is, I won't give up). This structure appears very often.
- Distinguish from the N5 ても: 「～てもいいです」(permission) is actually ても + いい. Same grammatical root, but combined with いい／かまいません it means permission; standing before an ordinary clause it means "even if."
- If the former clause is a fact that has already happened (not a hypothesis), Japanese uses ～のに (even though ~) instead — carrying an additional feeling of dissatisfaction, regret. ても is more neutral.
Examples
明日雨が降っても、試合をします。
Even if it rains tomorrow, the match will be held.
いくら説明しても、弟は分かりません。
No matter how much I explain, my little brother does not understand.
高くても、この辞書を買います。
Even if it is expensive, I will buy this dictionary.
Keep in mind
- The negative conjugation なくても is often paired with ～なくてもいいです (no need to ~).
- いい → よくても, like every other conjugation of いい.
Common mistakes
-
Wrong高いても、買います。
Even if it's expensive, I'll buy it.
Correct高くても、買います。
An i-adjective must change い → くて before adding も. Vietnamese learners often attach ても directly to the adjective because they think ても is an independent particle.
-
Wrong雨が降っても、傘を持っていきます。
If it rains, I'll bring an umbrella.
Correct雨が降ったら、傘を持っていきます。
ても is only used when the latter clause is the OPPOSITE of what you'd normally infer from the former clause ("even though ~, still ~"). Bringing an umbrella when it rains is an obvious reaction, nothing surprising/contradictory — so the ordinary conditional たら／ば should be used, not ても.
-
Wrong学生ても、責任がある。
Even as a student, one still has responsibility.
Correct学生でも、責任がある。
A noun connects with the concessive 「も」via 「で」: 学生でも.
Exam tips
- Accompanying keywords: いくら、どんなに、たとえ → the latter clause is almost certainly ても.