てでも

JLPT N2approx.Neutral
Meaning

Expresses strong determination: someone is willing to resort to an extreme, costly, or undesirable means to achieve a goal. It translates as “even if it means doing ~” or “even by doing ~.”

Formation
Verb (te-form)+でも借金する → 借金してでも, 並ぶ → 並んででも
Examples
彼女かのじょに会あうためなら、借金しゃっきんしてでも行いきます。
If it's to see her, I'll go even if I have to borrow money.
このチケットは、徹夜てつやで並ならんででも手てに入いれたい。
I want to get this ticket, even if it means lining up all night.
Usage

It is used in both everyday speech and writing to show resolve. The main clause usually expresses will, desire, or necessity, such as 〜たい, 〜つもりだ, 〜ます or 〜なければならない. It can also describe another person's determination, as in 彼は借金してでもその家を買いたいそうだ, or report that someone actually took the measure, as in 彼は借金してでもその家を買った. てまで, by contrast, often carries a critical or surprised evaluation.

Watch out

Note that the action before てでも should be a drastic or burdensome means, because ordinary, easy actions make the sentence sound odd.

Do not forget that verbs with a で-type て-form produce a double で, as in 並んででも or 飲んででも.

Learners should remember that てでも highlights willingness to pay a cost and is not a neutral way to say “by doing ~.”

Easily confused with
  • てまでN2「てまで」 stresses that the cost is excessive or not worth it; its main clause is usually negative or questioning, though it can also report something that has already happened with surprise or criticism. 「てでも」 instead expresses a determination to do something no matter what, so the evaluations are opposite and the two are generally not interchangeable.
  • を押してN1「を押して」 follows a noun and means pushing through an existing obstacle such as opposition, illness or bad weather; it is written style and can narrate past events. 「てでも」 follows the verb て-form and marks a cost one willingly takes on, with the main clause usually expressing will or wish, so the two are not interchangeable.
  • をものともせずN1「をものともせず」 follows a noun and means acting without regard to difficulties or other obstacles, typically used in writing to describe others admiringly. 「てでも」 follows the verb て-form and means being willing to resort to any means, with the main clause usually expressing the speaker's will or wish, so the two are not interchangeable.
  • も顧みず / を顧みずN1「も顧みず」 follows a noun or a verb followed by の and means acting despite knowing the danger or opposition; it is written style and can narrate established facts. 「てでも」 follows the verb て-form, with the first part naming a means one is willing to resort to and the main clause usually expressing will or wish, so the two are not interchangeable.
  • といえどもN1「といえども」 expresses concession ("even if / even for…"), follows nouns and the plain forms of various word types, usually leads to a judgment, prohibition or obligation, and is formal written style. 「てでも」 follows the verb て-form and expresses determination to do something at any cost, so the two are not interchangeable.

てまで also means “going so far as to do ~” but often implies that the measure is excessive, as in そこまでして〜したくない, whereas てでも presents that measure as a price someone is prepared to pay. を押して, をものともせず and も顧みず / を顧みず are more formal and attach to nouns to describe pressing on despite obstacles, adversity or risk, while といえども is a formal concessive meaning “even though (one is) X” and says nothing about the lengths one will go to.

Grammar · JLPT grammar levels are community estimates, not official (no official lists have been published since the 2010 revision).

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