〜につけ〜につけ
Whether A or B: pairs two contrasting or related items to say that the same thing holds, or the same result follows, in either case.
Verb (dictionary form)The basic form of a verb, as listed in a dictionary (non-past, affirmative).
行く・食べる・する・来る
Narrower than the plain form, which also covers 行かない・行った・行かなかった.
Verb (dictionary form)The basic form of a verb, as listed in a dictionary (non-past, affirmative).
行く・食べる・する・来る
Narrower than the plain form, which also covers 行かない・行った・行かなかった.
i-adj. (dictionary form)The basic form of an i-adjective, as listed in a dictionary (non-past, affirmative).
高い・おいしい・新しい
Narrower than the plain form, which also covers 高くない・高かった・高くなかった.
i-adj. (dictionary form)The basic form of an i-adjective, as listed in a dictionary (non-past, affirmative).
高い・おいしい・新しい
Narrower than the plain form, which also covers 高くない・高かった・高くなかった.
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Slightly formal and more common in writing or set phrases than in casual talk. It typically pairs opposites (good/bad, rain/shine, success/failure) or closely related counterparts (rain/wind), and the main clause states a constant fact or attitude. Compared with であれ〜であれ or にしろ〜にしろ, it is less freely productive and often appears in fixed pairings.
Note that A and B should be parallel items of the same kind, either opposites or related counterparts such as 晴れ／雨 or 雨／風.
Learners should not confuse this with a single につけ, which means 'whenever' or 'every time' rather than 'whether A or B'.
Note that the main clause should express something that holds in both cases, not a result that applies to only one.
- 1.につけN2Standalone 「につけ」 means 'whenever…', usually after perception or thought verbs like 「見る」 or 「聞く」, followed by a naturally arising emotion; there is also 「何かにつけ」 ('at every turn'). Its meaning differs from 「〜につけ〜につけ」, so the two are not interchangeable.
- 2.〜につけてもN2「につけても」 is used alone, not in pairs, typically after verbs such as 「見る」, 「聞く」, or 「思う」, meaning 'whenever…, feelings or memories naturally well up'. Only 「何事につけても」 comes close to this pattern's 'no matter…' meaning.
- 3.であれ〜であれN2「であれ〜であれ」 attaches only to nouns and な-adjectives, combines more freely, and can even be followed by an invitation or request, whereas 「につけ〜につけ」 is mostly limited to set phrases and can take verbs and い-adjectives. With noun pairs like 「成功／失敗」, the two are often interchangeable.
- 4.にしろ / にせよN2「にしろ／にせよ」 resemble this pattern only in the 「AにしろBにしろ」 form, but they combine freely and the two items can be different parts of speech; 「にしろ」 is also common in spoken Japanese and can be used alone to express concession. 「〜につけ〜につけ」, by contrast, is mostly limited to idiomatic set phrases.
A single につけ means 'every time / whenever' (見るにつけ), and 〜につけても means 'in connection with / whenever' (何事につけても); neither means 'whether A or B'. であれ〜であれ and にしろ〜にしろ / にせよ〜にせよ also mean 'whether A or B' but combine freely with many kinds of items, whereas 〜につけ〜につけ typically pairs opposites or related counterparts, often in set expressions.
