“ikanaru 〜mo・ika ni shite mo”: No Matter What 〜 / However You Do It (formal concession) [JLPT N1]

Content by NTJ Kuma · Nihongo to Japan editorial team · Updated July 27, 2026

The most emphatic, formal way to say “no matter what”

「いかなる理由があろうと、暴力は許されない」 — the most solemn ‘no matter what'

To solemnly say “no matter the circumstances ～” in law or a statement, 「いかなる理由があろうと、暴力は許されない」 (whatever the reason, violence isn't permitted) — 「いかなる〜も・いかにしても」 = whatever ～, no matter how, the most written, formal, strongest set among “no matter how” concession expressions. This guide covers attachment and separates it from the colloquial 「どんな〜でも」 and the look-alike but entirely different 「いかにも (typically like).」

Core: the most written, strongest ‘any ～／no matter how'

This set is the most written, formal concession for “no matter how／whatever”:

① いかなる〜も = whatever ～, any ～ (the most written form of 「どんな〜も」):

• いかなる困難があろうとも、決して諦めない (whatever difficulties arise, I'll never give up).
• いかなる場合においても、暴力は許されない (in any case, violence isn't permitted).

② いかにしても = no matter how, do what you will (mostly with a negative):

• いかにしても、締め切りには間に合いそうにない (no matter how, it doesn't look like I'll make the deadline).

Feel: they carry a heavy literary, formal, solemn color, common in law, official documents, formal statements, solemn declarations. 「いかなる」 is the attributive of 「いかに (how)」 (modifying a noun); 「いかにしても」 is 「いかに (how) ＋ しても.」 It corresponds to “whatever ～, any ～, no matter how, do what you will,” the most solemn version of “no matter ～.”

How it attaches

See it in context

• いかなる犠牲を払っても、目的を達成する覚悟だ。(I'm resolved to achieve the goal whatever the cost.)
• 当社は、いかなる差別も容認しない。(Our company tolerates no discrimination of any kind.)
• いかなる質問にも、誠実に答えます。(To any question, I'll answer sincerely.)
• いかにしても、この結果を受け入れるほかない。(No matter how, there's no choice but to accept this result.)
• いかなる理由があろうとも、約束は守るべきだ。(Whatever the reason, a promise should be kept.)

⚠️ Common mistakes to avoid

① It's the most written, formal, strongest version of ‘no matter how／any ～.' 「いかなる〜も・いかにしても」 isn't a plain “no matter ～”; it's the most solemn, formal, literary concession, mostly for law, contracts, official documents, formal statements, solemn declarations: いかなる場合においても (in any case — legal language), いかなる差別も容認しない (tolerate no discrimination — a formal statement). It feels “stiff, solemn, uncompromising,” hardly used in everyday speech (everyday uses the colloquial 「どんな〜でも」). It corresponds to the most solemn version of “no matter any ～, any ～, no matter how.” Test: to stress in formal, solemn writing／declarations “no matter any ～, ～” → いかなる〜も／いかにしても.

② Attachment: いかなる ＋ noun (＋ も); いかにしても ＋ clause. Get the attachment right. 「いかなる」 is an attributive, always followed by a noun (いかなる理由・いかなる困難・いかなる場合), then 「も／でも／においても」: いかなる困難も, いかなる場合においても. It can't stand alone (× いかなるだ). 「いかにしても」 is followed by a clause (mostly a negative or “hard to ～” result): いかにしても間に合わない. Mnemonic: いかなる ＋ noun ＋ も = any ～; いかにしても ＋ (clause) = no matter how.

③ ⭐Don't confuse it with the sibling 「いかにも (typically like)」 — a few kana apart, opposite meanings. This is the most lethal confusion. 「いかに『しても』」 = no matter how, do what you will (this lesson, concession): いかにしても無理だ (no matter how, it's impossible). 「いかに『も』」 = really, typically like, just looks the part (stressing fitting an image, see 〈いかにも〉): いかにも高そう (just looks expensive). Both are 「いかに〜,」 but 「いかにしても (no matter how)」 and 「いかにも (typically like)」 mean entirely different things — one is the concession “no matter how ～,” one is the image-emphasis “just looks ～”! Plus 「いかに (alone) = how much／how」 (see 〈いかに〉), the three 「いか〜」 are “no matter how／typically like／how much” — a few kana apart, worlds of difference, so be sure to check what follows.

🔄 Compare: いかなる〜も／どんな〜でも／であれ／どんなに〜ても

💡 An exam judgment tip

「いかなる〜も・いかにしても」 = whatever ～／no matter how (the most written concession) — three points: ① it's the most written, formal, strongest version of “no matter how／any ～” — common in law, official documents, formal statements (いかなる場合においても); ② attachment: いかなる ＋ noun ＋ も／いかにしても ＋ clause; ③⭐don't confuse it with the sibling 「いかにも (typically like, see 〈いかにも〉)」 — 「いかにしても (no matter how)」 vs 「いかにも (just looks like)」 a few kana apart, entirely different meanings. This pattern carries a “solemn, uncompromising” weight, well suited to formal statements and solemn declarations of “no matter any ～, ～.” Everyday speech returns to 「どんな〜でも.」 To solemnly say “any ～, ～” in formal writing, 「いかなる〜も」 has the most weight (with a division of labor from 〈どんなに〜ても〉 for degree and 〈であれ〉 for who).

❓ FAQ

Q: Are 「いかにしても」 and 「いかにも」 the same? Just a tiny bit apart.

No, entirely different meanings — 「いかにしても」 is “no matter how” (concession), 「いかにも」 is “typically like, just looks the part” (image emphasis). 「いかにしても」 = no matter how, do what you will (concession, mostly with a negative): it means “no matter what method, do what you will, (still) ～,” the most written version of “no matter ～,” mostly followed by a negative or “hard to ～”: いかにしても、間に合いそうにない (no matter how, it doesn't look like I'll make it), いかにしても、彼を説得するのは難しい (no matter how, persuading him is hard). It's about “however done, ～ (no matter how)” concession. 「いかにも」 = really, typically like, just looks the part (stressing fitting an image): it means “(some impression／appearance) is very obvious, perfectly fits a certain image,” often with 「そう／らしい」 (see 〈いかにも〉): いかにも高そう (just looks expensive), いかにも彼らしい (very much like him). It's about “just looks like a certain image (typically like).” Difference: 「いかにしても」 = no matter how (concession, however done ～); 「いかにも」 = typically like (image, just looks ～) — entirely different! Test: to say “no matter how, do what you will ～” (concession) → いかにしても; to say “just looks ～, very much like ～” (image) → いかにも (see 〈いかにも〉). These two plus 「いかに (how much／how),」 the three 「いか〜」 are “no matter how／typically like／how much,” told apart by what follows 「いかに」 (しても／も／standalone) — don't mix.

Q: Do 「いかなる困難も」 and 「どんな困難でも」 mean the same?

Same meaning (both “no matter what difficulty ～”), the difference is only register (written vs colloquial). Both express the concession “no matter what ～, (still) ～,” same meaning, differing in formality. 「いかなる〜も」 = whatever ～, any ～ (most written, formal, solemn): 「いかなる」 is a literary attributive (= the most written form of 「どんな」), with a heavy formal, solemn, law／official-document color: いかなる困難も乗り越える (overcome any difficulty — a solemn declaration), いかなる理由があろうとも、許されない (whatever the reason, not permitted — a formal statement). It's mostly for law, contracts, official documents, formal speeches, solemn declarations, hardly used in everyday speech. 「どんな〜でも」 = no matter what ～ (colloquial, everyday, general): it's the everyday colloquial “no matter what ～,” natural, general: どんな困難でも乗り越える (overcome any difficulty — everyday), どんな質問でも答えます (answer any question). It's natural, friendly, used in everyday speech and general writing. Difference: 「いかなる〜も」 most written, formal, solemn (law／official documents／statements); 「どんな〜でも」 colloquial, everyday, natural. Test: formal writing, law, solemn declarations, to solemnly say “any ～, ～” → いかなる〜も; everyday speech, general settings, naturally saying “no matter what ～, ～” → どんな〜でも. E.g. a contract 「いかなる事情があっても、返金はいたしません (whatever the circumstances, no refunds — legally solemn)」 uses いかなる; to a friend 「どんなことがあっても、味方だよ (whatever happens, I'm on your side — friendly colloquial)」 uses どんな. Same “no matter what ～,” one solemn and written, one friendly and colloquial — pick the register-appropriate one.

🖊️ Practice Questions (5)

Q1. 「___状況でも、冷静さを失ってはならない。」(No matter the situation, you must not lose your composure.)

(A) いかなる　(B) いかにも　(C) いかが　(D) いかほど

Q2. 「___、この問題は今日中には解決できない。」(No matter what we do, this problem cannot be solved by the end of today.)

(A) いかにしても　(B) いかにも　(C) いかがにも　(D) いかんなく

Q3. What does 「いかなる理由があっても、暴力は許されない。」 mean?

(A) No matter what reason there is, violence is not permitted

(B) As long as there is a reason, violence is okay

(C) Without a reason you cannot use violence

(D) Violence must have a reason

Q4. Which best captures the nuance of 「いかなる〜も」?

(A) The most formal, written "no matter what ~, all" (the literary form of どんな〜でも)

(B) A colloquial "roughly, about"

(C) Shows a question

(D) Shows a reason

Q5. What is the correct form that follows 「いかなる」?

(A) いかなる＋noun (いかなる場合も)　(B) いかなる＋dictionary-form verb

(C) いかなる＋て-form　(D) いかなる＋adjective stem

Answer Explanations

1. (A) いかなる ── いかなる ＋ noun ＋ も/でも = no matter what 〜, all of them.

2. (A) いかにしても ── 「いかにしても」 = no matter what one does.

3. (A) No matter the reason, violence is not permitted ── いかなる〜ても is the strongest written concession.

4. (A) ── 「いかなる〜も」 is the most formal literary-style concession.

5. (A) ── 「いかなる」 is followed by a noun (いかなる場合も).