ようが / ようと
🃏 Flashcard
ようが / ようと
you ga / you to
Tap to reveal usage
even if; no matter how/what ~
N1
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📊 Pattern Stats
JLPT Level
N1
Advanced · Literary, rhetorical & rare forms
Reading
you ga / you to
Post ID
51431
Patterns today
0
0 / 10 daily goal
📝 Usage Notes
even if; no matter how/what ~
📖 How to use it
Expresses that regardless of what someone does or what happens, the result or judgment is unaffected.
Attaches to
Attach to the volitional form of verbs: for verbs, replace the final -u with -ou (e.g., 行く -> 行こう, 食べる -> 食べよう, する -> しよう, 来る -> 来よう). For adjectives and nouns, the pattern is typically だろうが/だろうと or であろうが/であろうと (e.g., 高かろうが is rare/archaic; 高かろう and だろう are not used in this pattern in modern standard Japanese). The pattern is ようが + ～ようが or ようと + ～ようと, optionally followed by ～ same as, ～自由だ, ～勝手だ, etc. The negative counterpart can be expressed with ～まいが/～まいと (e.g., 来まいが).
This pattern sets up two or more alternative actions or states, emphasizing that the speaker's opinion or the outcome remains unchanged regardless of which one occurs. It is often used to express indifference, defiance, or strong determination. The repeated structure (A ようが B ようが) means 'whether A or B', and the single use (A ようが) means 'even if A'. It is similar to ても but stronger and more rhetorical.
誰が何と言おうが、私は自分の道を行く。
Dare ga nan to iou ga, watashi wa jibun no michi o iku.
No matter who says what, I will go my own way.
雨が降ろうと風が吹こうと、試合は決行する。
Ame ga furou to kaze ga fukou to, shiai wa kekkou suru.
Whether it rains or winds blow, the match will go on.
彼が来ようが来まいが、会議は予定通り始める。
Kare ga koyou ga koi mai ga, kaigi wa yotei doori hajimeru.
Whether he comes or not, the meeting will start as scheduled.
Not ～ても / ～とも
～ても is more neutral and common in everyday speech, while ～ようが/～ようと is literary, emphatic, and often used in formal or rhetorical contexts. Also, ～ようが/～ようと often pairs contrasting actions, whereas ～ても is for a single condition.
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This pattern is primarily written and formal; in casual conversation, ～ても or ～たって is far more natural.
🎯 Quick Quiz
What does this grammar pattern mean or do?
ようが / ようと
📚 How to Master This Pattern
Say It Aloud
Press Hear it and repeat ようが / ようと 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 ようが / ようと. 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
やれ〜やれ
give 2 representative examples (negative)
Next →
ようが〜ようが /ようと〜ようと
no matter; whether; even if [A] or [B]
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
What does the grammar pattern ようが / ようと mean?
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Even if; no matter how/what ~
What JLPT level is ようが / ようと?
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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 ようが / ようと in a sentence?
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Attach ようが / ようと (you ga / you to) 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 ようが / ようと formal or casual Japanese?
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ようが / ようと 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 ようが / ようと 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.