かれ〜かれ
🃏 Flashcard
かれ〜かれ
kare~kare
Tap to reveal usage
sooner or later; more or less
N1
Tap to test your recall · +10 XP
📊 Pattern Stats
JLPT Level
N1
Advanced · Literary, rhetorical & rare forms
Reading
kare~kare
Post ID
51239
Patterns today
0
0 / 10 daily goal
📝 Usage Notes
sooner or later; more or less
📖 How to use it
Expresses that something will happen regardless of minor differences in degree or timing.
Attaches to
Attach to い-adjective stems (drop final い) or な-adjective stems (drop な), then add かれ to each stem, e.g., おそかれはやかれ (from おそい and はやい).
This pattern pairs two opposite adjectives to say 'whether it's A or B, ultimately X'. It emphasizes that the outcome is unavoidable or that the difference doesn't matter. For example, おそかれはやかれ means 'sooner or later', おおかれすくなかれ means 'more or less'. It's a set, somewhat formal expression used mainly in writing or formal speech. You won't hear it in casual conversation, but it's useful for essays, news, and presentations. The pattern is quite fixed; you only use it with a few common pairs like these.
おそかれはやかれ、この計画は実現するだろう。
Osokare hayakare, kono keikaku wa jitsugen suru darou.
Sooner or later, this plan will be realized.
おおかれすくなかれ、この方針には影響が出るはずだ。
Ookare sukunakare, kono houshin ni wa eikyou ga deru hazu da.
More or less, this policy is bound to have an impact.
よかれあしかれ、彼の決断を尊重しよう。
Yokare ashikare, kare no ketsudan wo sonchou shiyou.
For better or worse, let's respect his decision.
Not 〜にせよ〜にせよ
〜にせよ〜にせよ means 'whether A or B', and can be used with any verbs/nouns, while 〜かれ〜かれ is fixed to a few adjective pairs and implies an inevitable result.
Register
Formal and literary; used in written language or formal speeches, not in casual conversation.
🎯 Quick Quiz
What does this grammar pattern mean or do?
かれ〜かれ
📚 How to Master This Pattern
Say It Aloud
Press Hear it and repeat かれ〜かれ three times. Feel the rhythm — grammar patterns have a natural flow.
Flip Before Reading
Always try to recall the usage before flipping the card. Struggle = learning. Every failed recall makes the next one stick harder.
Write Two Sentences
Compose two original sentences using かれ〜かれ. One about yourself, one about something you see right now.
Spaced Review
Save this pattern and revisit at 10 min, 1 day, 3 days. Production (writing) beats recognition for grammar.
🔗 More JLPT N1 Patterns
← Previous
からある / からする/ からの
at least; as much as; as many as ~
Next →
かたがた
while; at the same time; incidentally ~
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
What does the grammar pattern かれ〜かれ mean?
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Sooner or later; more or less
What JLPT level is かれ〜かれ?
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Nihoner currently groups this pattern under JLPT N1 — Advanced · Literary, rhetorical & rare forms. Use the level label as study guidance rather than a prediction of what will appear on an exam.
How do you use かれ〜かれ in a sentence?
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Attach かれ〜かれ (kare~kare) to the appropriate verb or noun form as described in the usage notes. Then try writing two original sentences — one about yourself and one about something around you.
Is かれ〜かれ formal or casual Japanese?
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かれ〜かれ is used in formal or written contexts. You will see it mainly in written texts, news, business Japanese and academic contexts.
How can I remember かれ〜かれ long-term?
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Use the flashcard on this page for active recall — see the pattern, reconstruct the usage from memory, then flip. Follow with the 4-choice quiz to distinguish it from similar patterns. Review later the same day and again over the following days. Writing original sentences can help you practise using the pattern in context.