“〜ni shite mo・〜ni shiro・〜ni seyo”: Even If 〜 / Whether 〜 or 〜 [JLPT N1]
Content by NTJ Kuma · Nihongo to Japan editorial team · Updated July 27, 2026
「遅れるにしても連絡して」「参加するにせよしないにせよ」 — even if…, and whether A or B.
「遅れるにしても、連絡して」 — even if ～, still …／whether ～ or ～
To say “even if it comes to that, you still must ～,” 「遅れるにしても、必ず連絡してください (even if you'll be late, you must contact us).」 「〜にしても／〜にしろ／〜にせよ」 = even if ～, still …／even in the case of ～ (concession); used in pairs, 「〜にしても〜にしても」 = whether A or B, still …. This guide clarifies both the single and paired uses, the register difference among the three (にしても colloquial／にしろ・にせよ written), and separating it from 「ても」「としても.」
Core: even if ～, still … (concession)／whether A or B, still …
「plain form／noun ＋ にしても（にしろ／にせよ）」 has two uses:
① Single = even if ～, still …, even in the case of ～ (concession) — even in this case, the conclusion doesn't change:
- 冗談で言ったにしても、彼を傷つけたのは事実だ (even if said as a joke, it's a fact that it hurt him).
- 忙しいにせよ、連絡くらいはできたはずだ (even if busy, you could at least have gotten in touch).
② Paired 「〜にしても〜にしても／〜にしろ〜にしろ／〜にせよ〜にせよ」 = whether A or B, still … — listing two (opposite or parallel) cases, same conclusion:
- 行くにしても行かないにしても、早めに決めてほしい (whether you go or not, please decide soon).
- 賛成にせよ反対にせよ、理由を述べるべきだ (whether for or against, you should state your reasons).
Feel: the core is the concession “even if ～ (this case), still … (the conclusion holds).” The three are synonymous, differing only in register: にしても (more colloquial) ＜ にしろ／にせよ (more written). In English: even if ～, still, whether ～ or.
Attachment & forms
| Use | Form | Example |
|---|---|---|
| single (concession) | plain form／noun ＋ にしても／にしろ／にせよ | 遅れるにしても |
| paired (whether A or B) | A にしても B にしても | 行くにしても行かないにしても |
| question word ＋ にしても | whatever (who／what／where) | 誰にしても |
Examples in use
- どんな理由があるにせよ、暴力は許されない。(Whatever the reason, violence isn't allowed.)
- 高いにしても、品質を考えれば妥当な値段だ。(Even if expensive, considering the quality it's a fair price.)
- やるにしろやめるにしろ、自分で決めなさい。(Whether you do it or quit, decide for yourself.)
- 彼が犯人だにしても、証拠がなければ逮捕できない。(Even if he's the culprit, without evidence he can't be arrested.)
- 結果がどうなるにせよ、全力を尽くすだけだ。(Whatever the outcome, all one can do is give it one's all.)
⚠️ Where learners slip up
① Two uses: ① single ‘even if ～, still,' ② paired ‘whether A or B, still.' This is the point most needing distinction. ① The single 「〜にしても／にしろ／にせよ」 = even if ～, still … (concession): even in this case, the latter conclusion holds: 忙しいにしても、一言くらい言えたはずだ (even if busy, you could at least have said a word). ② The paired 「〜にしても〜にしても／〜にしろ〜にしろ／〜にせよ〜にせよ」 = whether A or B, still …: listing two (mostly opposite) cases, for “whichever, the conclusion is the same”: 勝つにせよ負けるにせよ、全力を尽くす (whether we win or lose, give it our all). Test: only one appears → even if ～, still (concession); appears paired (AにしてもBにしても) → whether A or B, still.
② にしても (colloquial)／にしろ・にせよ (written) — same meaning, differing in register. The three mean exactly the same (even if ～, still／whether ～ or), differing only in register formality: 「にしても」 more colloquial, general (everyday speech, general writing); 「にしろ／にせよ」 more written, formal (「にせよ」 the most formal, mostly for discourse, formal settings). So everyday speech mostly uses 「にしても,」 formal discourse and essays mostly 「にしろ／にせよ.」 Test: colloquial, everyday → にしても; written, formal → にしろ／にせよ. The three swap by register, meaning unchanged.
③ The origin of 「にしろ／にせよ」 — originally the imperative 「しろ／せよ,」 but here it's concession, not a command. This is easily misread. The 「しろ／せよ」 of 「にしろ／にせよ」 is originally the imperative of the verb 「する」 (do!), but in the pattern 「〜にしろ／にせよ,」 it's not a command but expresses concession “even if ～, even supposing ～”: どちらにせよ (whichever), いずれにしろ (in any case). Its logic resembles “even supposing it be ～ (する),” hence extended to concession. Test: on seeing 「〜にしろ／にせよ,」 read it as the concession “even if ～, whether ～”; don't misread it as a command just because of 「しろ／せよ.」
④ Separate it from 「ても」 — にしても carries more of a ‘taking ～ as a judgment' feel, ても is plain concession. Both express “even if ～, still,” very close, differing in feel. 「〜にしても」 = even if ～ (with the feel of ‘judging by ～, this matter／case,' often commenting on something): 冗談にしてもひどい (even as a joke it's too much — judging by “it's a joke,” still finding it too much). It often carries comment, judgment on something. 「〜ても」 = even if ～ (a plain adversative concession, see 〈ても〉): 雨が降っても行く (I'll go even if it rains — a plain concessive condition). It's the most basic, plain concession. Difference: 「にしても」 leans “taking ～ as a judgment, still…” (often with comment, can take nouns, situations); 「ても」 leans plain adversative concession (even if ～, see 〈ても〉). Test: to carry “judging by ～, even in terms of ～ …” → にしても; to just say “even if ～, still” → ても.
🔄 Compare: にしても／にしろ・にせよ／ても／としても
| Form | Meaning | Feel | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| 〜にしても | even if ～ (with judgment) | colloquial, general | 冗談にしても |
| 〜にしろ／にせよ | even if ～／whether ～ or | written, formal | どちらにせよ |
| 〜ても | even if ～ (see 〈ても〉) | plain adversative concession (basic) | 降っても |
| 〜としても | even supposing ～ | hypothetical concession | 本当だとしても |
💡 How to remember this
「〜にしても／にしろ／にせよ」 = even if ～, still …／whether ～ or … — three points: ① two uses — ① single = even if ～, still (concession), ② paired 「AにしてもBにしても」 = whether A or B, still; ② the three are synonymous, differing in register — にしても (colloquial) ＜ にしろ／にせよ (written, にせよ the most formal); ③ separate it from 「ても (plain concession, see 〈ても〉)」 — にしても often carries a “taking ～ as a judgment” feel. This set is very practical — to say with a bit of comment “even if it's ～, still …” (冗談にしてもひどい), or to list two extremes for “whether A or B, still …” (行くにしても行かないにしても), the 「にしても」 series fits well. Use 「にしても」 for speech, 「にせよ／にしろ」 for formal discourse — swap flexibly.
❓ Quick FAQ
Q: What's the difference between 「〜にしても」 and 「〜にしても〜にしても」?
The difference is ‘single' vs ‘paired,' differing in meaning. ① The single 「〜にしても」 = even if ～, still … (concession): only one appears, for “even in this case, the latter conclusion holds”: 疲れているにしても、その態度はよくない (even if tired, that attitude isn't good — even supposing “tired” holds, still criticizing the attitude). ② The paired 「〜にしても〜にしても」 = whether A or B, still …: two 「にしても」 appear paired, preceding two opposite or parallel items, for “whichever the case, the conclusion is the same”: 成功するにしても失敗するにしても、挑戦する価値はある (whether it succeeds or fails, it's worth attempting — two opposite outcomes, same conclusion), 行くにしても行かないにしても、返事はして (whether you go or not, do reply). Test: only one 「にしても」 → even if ～, still (concession, judging a single case); paired 「AにしてもBにしても」 (A, B mostly opposite) → whether A or B, still (conclusion unchanged). Likewise 「にしろ〜にしろ」「にせよ〜にせよ」 have both (single／paired) uses. So on seeing a pair preceding two opposite items (go／not go, win／lose, for／against), it's “whether ～ or.”
Q: Can the three 「にしても」「にしろ」「にせよ」 be swapped freely? What's the difference?
Same meaning exactly (all “even if ～／whether ～ or”), interchangeable, differing only in ‘register formality.' The three are register variants of one pattern: 「〜にしても」 = more colloquial, general: common in everyday speech and general writing, the most colloquial, neutral of the three: 高いにしても、買う価値はある (even if expensive, it's worth buying — everyday). 「〜にしろ」 = more written, slightly formal: a bit more written than 「にしても,」 common in discourse, slightly formal settings: いずれにしろ、決断が必要だ (in any case, a decision is needed). 「〜にせよ」 = the most written, most formal: the most formal, most written-literary of the three, mostly for formal discourse, essays, solemn statements: どんな事情があるにせよ、規則は守るべきだ (whatever the circumstances, rules should be kept — formal). So the difference is only register: everyday speech → にしても; general writing／slightly formal → にしろ; formal discourse／essays → にせよ. Test: for more colloquial → にしても; for more formal, written → にせよ／にしろ. The three mean the same — choose by the setting's formality, without affecting the meaning.
🖊️ Practice Questions (5)
Q1. 「遅れる___、必ず連絡してください。」(Even if you're going to be late, please be sure to get in touch)
(A) にしても (B) ながら (C) のに (D) くせに
Q2. 「参加する___、不参加___、事前に返事をください。」(Whether you attend or not, please reply in advance)
(A) にしても、にしても (B) だけでなく、も (C) なら、でも (D) から、まで
Q3. 「にしても」「にしろ」「にせよ」の正式度の順は？
(A) にしても > にしろ > にせよ
(B) にせよ > にしろ > にしても
(C) にしろ > にせよ > にしても
(D) 全部同じ
Q4. 「辞める___、辞めない___、上司に相談すべきだ。」(Whether you quit or not, you should consult your boss)
(A) にしても、にしても (B) なら、でも (C) から、まで (D) ながら、ながら
Q5. 「間違いがあった___、それは許されない行為だ。」(Even if there was a mistake, that is an unforgivable act)
(A) にしても (B) にしろ (C) にせよ (D) どれでも
Answer Explanations
1. (A) にしても ── 「遅れるにしても」(even if you'll be late), 「必ず連絡して」(please still get in touch) = a concessive condition → にしても.
2. (A) にしても、にしても ── 「参加するにしても、不参加にしても」(whether attending or not), 「事前に返事を」(please reply in advance) = A にしても B にしても = "in either case."
3. (B) ── Formality: にせよ (most written / formal) > にしろ (medium) > にしても (colloquial / everyday).
4. (A) にしても、にしても ── 「辞めるにしても、辞めないにしても」(whether you quit or not), 「上司に相談すべき」(you should consult) = in either case.
5. (D) どれでも ── 「間違いがあったにしても/にしろ/にせよ」(even if there was a mistake), 「それは許されない」— all three work, with slightly different nuances (にしても most colloquial, にせよ most written).