てまで
🃏 Flashcard
てまで
te made
Tap to reveal usage
even; will go far so as to~
N2
Tap to test your recall · +10 XP
📊 Pattern Stats
JLPT Level
N2
Upper-Intermediate · Academic & formal usage
Reading
te made
Post ID
51151
Patterns today
0
0 / 10 daily goal
📝 Usage Notes
even; will go far so as to~
📖 How to use it
Expresses doing something extreme or going out of one's way, with a sense of 'even to the point of'.
Attaches to
Attach to the て-form of a verb. The pattern is: Verb-て + まで. The verb before てまで often describes an action that is extreme or excessive.
This pattern emphasizes that the speaker thinks the action in the て-form is excessive or beyond what is reasonable, yet it is done anyway. It often carries a nuance of criticism, surprise, or strong determination. For example, if someone sacrifices sleep to study, you might say 寝ないでまで勉強する, meaning they go so far as to not sleep in order to study. The まで here means 'even to the point of', highlighting the extremity.
彼は体を壊してまで仕事を続けた。
Kare wa karada o kowashite made shigoto o tsuzuketa.
He continued working even to the point of ruining his health.
そんなに無理してまで行きたくない。
Sonna ni muri shite made ikitakunai.
I don't want to go to the point of pushing myself that hard.
借金してまで海外旅行に行くのはどうかと思う。
Shakkin shite made kaigai ryokou ni iku no wa dou ka to omou.
I think it's questionable to go abroad even if it means going into debt.
Not ～までして (same pattern but with noun or noun phrase before して)
～てまで attaches directly to a verb's て-form, while ～までして attaches to a noun or a noun phrase (e.g., 借金までして). Both mean 'even going so far as', but the structure differs.
Register
Neutral but often found in written or formal speech; in casual conversation, ～てまで is less common and may sound dramatic.
🎯 Quick Quiz
What does this grammar pattern mean or do?
てまで
📚 How to Master This Pattern
Say It Aloud
Press Hear it and repeat てまで 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 てまで. 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 N2 Patterns
← Previous
てこそ
now that; since (something happened)
Next →
てならない
can't help but; dying to; extremely~
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
What does the grammar pattern てまで mean?
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Even; will go far so as to~
What JLPT level is てまで?
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Nihoner currently groups this pattern under JLPT N2 — Upper-Intermediate · Academic & formal usage. Use the level label as study guidance rather than a prediction of what will appear on an exam.
How do you use てまで in a sentence?
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Attach てまで (te made) 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 てまで formal or casual Japanese?
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てまで 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 てまで 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.