Grammar Info

N2 Lesson 6: 15/20

としても

Even if (we assume), Assuming, Also as

Sometimes older speakers add だ for emphasis, creating としてもだ.

Structure

Verb + としても
［い］Adjective + としても
［な］Adjective + （だ）+ としても
Noun + （だ）+ としても

Details

  • Register

    Standard

  • 使用域

    一般

About としても

としても is a structure used in Japanese for expressing thoughts about (A), assuming that it were what is being described. This may be translated as 'even if we assume that it's (A)', or 'assuming that (A)'. However, the literal translation is quite close to 'even going off that it were (A), (B)', as としても simply expresses that despite (A) not being true, the speaker is willing to say that it is for arguments sake, before giving their thoughts about that hypothetical situation.
としても will be seen following verbs and い-Adjectives, or nouns and な-Adjectives that are followed by だ.
  • たとえ早(はや)くついたとしても、まだ誰(だれ)も来(き)ていないだろう。
    Even if we get there early, no one would probably be there yet.
  • あなたが言(い)っている事(こと)が正(ただ)しいとしても、私(わたし)は賛成(さんせい)できません。
    Even if we assume that what you are saying is correct, I do not agree with it.
  • たとえ仕事(しごと)が簡単(かんたん)だとしても、仕事(しごと)は丁寧(ていねい)にやるべきだ。
    Even if work is easy, work should be done with care.
  • 冗談(じょうだん)だとしても、そういうことは言(い)わない方(ほう)がいいと思(おも)う。
    Even if that was a joke, I don't think that you should say something like that.
In some cases, としても just functions as an extension of として 'as', and can be interpreted as 'even as (A)'. This nuance primarily highlights people or organizations in the position of (A), and states that 'even for (A), it will still be (B)'. Unlike the previous nuance, this としても will only be used with nouns.
  • こんな急(きゅう)に内容(ないよう)を変(か)えられたら、私(わたし)としても困(こま)ります。
    It will even inconvenience me if you change the details so suddenly.
  • 環境(かんきょう)問題(もんだい)に取(と)り組(く)んでいる会社(かいしゃ)としてもこういうことをしたくないのですが、仕方(しかた)がないんです。
    As a company that works on environmental issues, we don't want to do this, but we really don't have a choice.

Examples

  • たとえできるとしても、やらないだろう。

    I wouldn't do it even if I could.

  • 例(たと)え話(ばなし)だとしても許(ゆる)されない。

    Even if it is a parable, I can't permit it.

  • 大人(おとな)向(む)きの本(ほん)だとしても売(う)れます。

    You can also sell it as a book for adults.

  • 有名(ゆうめい)な先生(せんせい)から教(おそ)わったとしても、こんなに早(はや)く上達(じょうたつ)した人(ひと)は見(み)たことがない。

    Even if we assume that they were taught by a famous teacher, I have never seen someone progress so quickly.

  • 落(おと)し物(もの)を見(み)つけたとしても、ネコババする人(ひと)もいる。

    Even if we assume that the lost item was found, there are people who will pocket it.

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としても – Grammar Discussion

Most Recent Replies (2 in total)

  • onekun

    onekun

    What’s the nuance between this and ても? Is this purely hypothetical or something?

    edit: yeah, I’m pretty sure that is the case. I think that the grammar page should state that so it’s more clear.

  • Fuga

    Fuga

    Hey @onekun !

    Yes, としても has a stronger nuance that something is hypothetical, and it is used when making assumptions.
    Although they have a very similar translation, they are not interchangeable because of the difference in the nuance.

    For example, たとえ出来るとしても、やらないだろう。has a stronger nuance that being able to ‘do it’ is hypothetical, compared to たとえ出来ても、やらないだろう。

    We hope that answers your question!

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