Grammar Info

N1 Lesson 3: 17/17

であれ〜であれ

Whether or, Or, No matter which, In either case

Structure

Noun (A) + であれ + Noun (B) + であれ
[な]Adjective (A) + であれ + [な]Adjective (B) + であれ

Details

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    Formal

  • 使用域

    硬い

About であれ〜であれ

Functioning as an extension of である, the formal copula that is a combination of the conjunctive form of the auxiliary verb だ, and the う-Verb ある, であれ or であろうと will be used in order to express strong will or conviction.
あれ is simply the imperative form of ある, while あろうと is the positive volitional form combined with the case marking particle と. Both structures are usually translated as 'even if (A), (B)', or 'no matter if (A), (B)'. Despite this, the more literal meaning of each is closer to 'so it's (A), (B) still won't be affected'. This just emphasizes the fact that (A) is of no relation to the result, like saying 'so what if it is' in English.
When used consecutively, てあれ shows that regardless of whether something is (A) or (B), the result of (C), will not change.
Both であれ and であろうと will primarily attach to nouns in sentences that express some kind of question or assumption through words like どんな or たとえ.
  • 子供(こども)であれ大人(おとな)であれ入場料(にゅうじょうりょう)は4000(えん)です。
    Whether you are a child or an adult, the entrance fee is 4000 yen.
  • 日本製(にほんせい)であれベトナム(せい)であれ(おな)機械(きかい)でできてるから(しつ)()わりはない。
    Whether it is made in Japan or Vietnam, it is made with the same machine, so there is no difference in the quality.
  • 正社員(せいしゃいん)であろうとアルバイトであろうと(きゃく)には関係(かんけい)がない(はなし)だ。
    Whether someone is a full time worker or a part time worker doesn't matter to a customer.
  • 未経験者(みけいけんしゃ)であろうとベテランであろうと、この現場(げんば)(はい)るにはこの講習(こうしゅう)()けなくてはいけないです。
    Whether you are inexperienced or experienced, you must take this course to enter this work site.
Caution
Although ~であれ~であれ implies 'no matter whether it is (A) or (B)', both (A) and (B) in these types of sentences usually fall under the same category, as (C) needs to be something that links them logically. For example (A) may be 'a plane', and (B) may be 'a submarine', while (C) will be describing something about them both being vehicles.

Examples

  • 近代美術(きんだいびじゅつ)あれ伝統芸能(でんとうげいのう)あれ芸術(げいじゅつ)芸術(げいじゅつ)だ。

    Whether it is modern art or traditional art, art is art.

  • 遺伝情報(いでんじょうほう)とは、人間(にんげん)あれバナナあれ、すべて(おな)ようにDNAに()()まれているものだ。

    Whether it is in a human or in a banana, genetic information is something that is similarly encoded in DNA.

  • (ひと)無病息災(むびょうそくさい)あれ病気(びょうき)あれ(つね)健康(けんこう)注意(ちゅうい)必要(ひつよう)です。

    Whether someone is healthy or ill, they should take care of their health.

  • (ほん)ウェブサイト、故意(こい)に、オンラインあれオフラインあれ、ユーザからの個人情報(こじんじょうほう)収集(しゅうしゅう)しません。

    Whether online or offline, this website does not knowingly collect personal information from users.

  • 勉強(べんきょう)あれスポーツあれ(なん)あれ結果(けっか)(そそ)いできた努力(どりょく)次第(しだい)ある

    Whether it is studying, sports, or whatever, results depend on the effort one has put in.

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であれ〜であれ – Grammar Discussion

Most Recent Replies (1 in total)

  • megatron0000

    megatron0000

    Why not 「。。。」につけ「。。。」につけ、芸術は芸術だ ?

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