ても / でも — Even If / Even Though
Expresses concession: even if a (often hypothetical) condition holds, the result stays the same. 'Even if X, still Y.'
Structure
[Verb te-form] + も | [い-adj stem + くて] + も | [な-adj / Noun + で] + も
Examples
雨が降っても、行きます。
Ame ga futte mo, ikimasu.
Even if it rains, I'll go.
降って + も = even if it rains
高くても、買いたいです。
Takakute mo, kaitai desu.
Even if it's expensive, I want to buy it.
高くて + も = even if it's expensive
たくさん食べても、太りません。
Takusan tabete mo, futorimasen.
Even if I eat a lot, I don't gain weight.
食べて + も = even if (I) eat a lot
• ても expresses concession: despite the condition, the result holds. • 〜てもいい = 'even if you do X it's okay' = permission. • Compare with のに (even though — frustration about something actual) vs ても (even if — usually hypothetical).
Commonly confused with
The JLPT rarely asks whether you recognise a pattern — it asks which of several similar patterns fits. These are the ones ても is tested against.
vs のに
のに = 'even though' about a real, actual situation, often with surprise/frustration (勉強したのに落ちた). ても = 'even if', usually a hypothetical condition (勉強しても落ちる).
vs たら / ば (plain conditionals)
たら/ば give a normal consequence IF the condition holds. ても gives a consequence that holds EVEN IF (contrary to expectation) the condition holds.
More conditionals
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