Despite, even if, and still in Japanese

Level B2

Despite, even if, and still in Japanese

Japanese connects an obstacle to its result through endings attached to the obstacle clause. Use のに or にもかかわらず for factual concession, たとえ〜ても for even if, and それでも for an unexpected result. The formal examples use polite endings suitable for professional discussions or less familiar listeners, while the informal examples use plain endings, often with よ, suitable for familiar conversation. The clause before the connector normally keeps its plain form even when the sentence ends politely.

Key expressions: のに, たとえ〜ても, and それでも

A factual obstacle: a plain-form clause before のに

障害となる事実の普通形のに、予想に反する結果。

Formal concession: an action before にもかかわらず

障害となる行為の普通形にもかかわらず、予想に反する結果。

Even if: たとえ with a ても clause

たとえ仮定する出来事や状態のて形も、条件に左右されない結果や判断。

A fact that surprised you or a condition that changes nothing?

Where English despite can introduce a noun phrase, these のに examples describe the obstacle in a clause before giving the surprising result: “電車が遅れたのに、昼ご飯の前には着いたよ。”

Attach のに to a plain verb or い-adjective form, but use なのに after a present affirmative noun or な-adjective; のに often conveys surprise or disappointment, even when the sentence ends politely.

にもかかわらず presents a factual obstacle in a more formal, detached style and here follows a plain verb form: “以前より高い料金を払っているにもかかわらず、ほとんどの利用者はサービスに満足しているようです。”

For an imagined obstacle, たとえ emphasizes even if and the clause takes the verb’s て-form plus も, including でも when the て-form ends in で: “たとえ電車が遅れても、昼ご飯の前には着くよ。”

The hypothetical question “たとえまた値上げされても、お客さんは買い続けるでしょうか。” does not copy the English past form went up; Japanese uses ても for the condition and でしょうか to ask politely about the likely result.

それでも means even so or nevertheless, rather than the time-related still expressed by まだ, and can follow a clause ending in polite が or conversational けど: “チケットは思っていたより高かったけど、それでも買ったよ。”

An unexpected result: それでも

予想を生む事実。それでも予想に反する結果。

Polite discussion: prices, demand, and customer reactions

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