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

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, であれ 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.

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

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    近代美術(きんだいびじゅつ)であれ伝統芸能(でんとうげいのう)であれ芸術(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)であれバナナであれ、すべて(おな)じように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)であれ病気(びょうき)であれ(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、オンラインであれオフラインであれ、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)であれスポーツであれ(なん)であれ結果(けっか)(そそ)いできた努力(どりょく)次第(しだい)である。

    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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