としても
- 1Even if a hypothetical event happens, the stated result or plan stays the same.Ex. 1
- 2Even granting or assuming that something is the case, the expected consequence does not necessarily follow.Ex. 2
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Used in both speech and writing to set up a supposition and assert that the main clause holds regardless. It is typical in explanations, announcements, and reasoned arguments. Compared with plain ても, it foregrounds the hypothetical nature of the premise ('even supposing that…').
Note that だ after nouns and な-adjectives may be dropped (事実としても), but keeping it (反対だとしても) makes the hypothetical reading unmistakable.
Note that 名詞 + としても in a non-hypothetical sense (e.g. 私としても) usually means 'as / for (someone) too', a different use.
Learners should remember the main clause states an outcome that holds despite the premise, not one caused by it.
- にしてもN2「にしても」 usually attaches to a known fact or a fairly realistic situation, with a weaker hypothetical nuance. It attaches directly to nouns and な-adjectives without 「だ」, and can also be used in the parallel pattern 「AにしてもBにしても」.
- としたって / としたところでN1「としたって」 is more colloquial, while 「としたところで」 more strongly implies 'even if you do it, it's useless', so the following clause is typically negative or a pessimistic judgment. 「としたって」 can also attach to personal nouns to mean 'even from someone's standpoint'.
- てもN4「ても」 attaches to the て-form (降っても、高くても、静かでも). When expressing hypothetical concession it is often interchangeable with 「としても」, but its hypothetical sense is weaker; it can also concede an existing unfavorable condition, or combine with question words to mean 'no matter...'.
- たところでN1「たところで」 attaches only to the past tense of verbs and carries a pessimistic 'doing it would be pointless' tone, with the following clause typically negative or very low in degree; it cannot be followed by volitional or command forms. When the following clause expresses futility, the two are roughly interchangeable.
- にしろ / にせよN2「にしろ／にせよ」 is close to 「としても」 in concessive meaning and the two are often interchangeable. However, it attaches directly to nouns and な-adjectives (without 「だ」), has a more written/formal register, and the listing pattern 「AにしろBにしろ」 is one of its hallmark usages.
- とてN1「とて」 has an old-fashioned, literary flavor and is mostly found in writing. When it attaches to verbs or adjectives, the following clause is typically a futile, negative outcome, whereas 「としても」 can be followed by volition or judgment. When 「とて」 attaches to a noun it means 'even... is no exception' and does not express a hypothesis.
Plain ても is the basic concessive, while としても stresses a supposed premise; にしても is close in meaning, while にしろ／にせよ are stiffer and can also pair alternatives (AにしろBにしろ). としたって is a colloquial variant and としたところで an emphatic one; たところで implies the action would be futile; とて is literary.
