“〜you ga・〜you to”: No Matter 〜 (emphatic) [JLPT N1]
Content by NTJ Kuma · Nihongo to Japan editorial team · Updated July 27, 2026
「何が起きようと逃げない」 — no matter what, my resolve holds.
「何を言われようが、気にしない」 — no matter ～, still ～ (unshakably)
To flatly declare “whatever happens, I'll ～,” Japanese uses an emphatic concessive — 「たとえ何と言われようと、私は自分の道を行く (no matter what I'm told, I'll go my own way).」 「〜ようが／〜ようと」 = no matter ～, even if ～. It takes the volitional form, stressing the resolve “no matter what, the result won't change.” This guide clarifies its core, the volitional attachment (the godan trap), the paired 「〜ようが〜まいが,」 separating it from 「ても.」
Core: no matter ～ (what happens), (the result) still ～ (unchanged) (emphatic concession)
「verb volitional form ＋ が／と」 means “no matter ～, even if ～, regardless of ～” — stressing “no matter how the first is, the second (result, attitude) won't change”:
- 周りに何と言われようが、私は気にしない (no matter what those around say, I won't mind).
- どんなに困難があろうと、最後までやり遂げる (no matter how many difficulties, I'll see it through).
- 誰が反対しようと、この計画は進める (no matter who opposes, this plan goes ahead).
Feel: the core is “no matter ～ (what happens, however), (my attitude／the result) still ～ (unchanged)” — an emphatic, resolute concession, stronger and more written than 「ても.」 It precedes a verb volitional form (言おう／しよう), often with 「たとえ／どんなに／誰が.」 There's also the paired 「〜ようが〜まいが／〜ようと〜まいと」 = “whether ～ or not, still ～.” In English: “no matter ～, regardless of ～, even if ～ (resolutely).”
Attachment rules
| Word type | Attachment | Example |
|---|---|---|
| verb (godan) | ⭐volitional (お-row ＋ う) ＋ が／と | 言おうが／行こうと |
| verb (ichidan) | volitional (masu stem ＋ よう) ＋ が／と | 食べようが |
| adjective | 〜かろう ＋ が／と | 高かろうが |
| noun・na-adj | 〜だろう ＋ が／と | 雨だろうと |
| paired | 〜ようが〜まいが | 行こうが行くまいが |
See it in context
- たとえ失敗しようが、挑戦したことに意味がある。(Even if it fails, there's meaning in having tried.)
- 世間がどう思おうと、私は真実を語る。(No matter what the world thinks, I'll tell the truth.)
- 雨が降ろうが槍が降ろうが、試合は行われる。(Come rain or come spears, the match will be held.)
- 彼が来ようと来まいと、会議は始める。(Whether he comes or not, the meeting will start.)
- どんなに高価だろうと、必要なものは買う。(No matter how expensive, I'll buy what's needed.)
⚠️ Common mistakes to avoid
① The core is the emphatic concession ‘no matter ～ (unchanged),' stronger and more written than 「ても.」 This is 「ようが／ようと」's core feel. It means “no matter how the first is (whatever happens, however treated), the second (my attitude／the result) won't change” — with resolute, unshakable emphasis, stronger, more written, weightier than 「ても」: 何と言われようが、気にしない (no matter what I'm told, I won't mind — resolute). It often takes 「たとえ／どんなに／誰が／どう」 for emphasis. Test: to resolutely, emphatically say “no matter ～, still ～ (unchanged)” → ようが／ようと.
② ⭐Attachment is the volitional form; godan verbs become ‘お-row ＋ う' (don't misapply ichidan's). This is the most error-prone attachment. 「ようが／ようと」 precedes a verb volitional form, but godan and ichidan differ: ichidan verbs = “masu stem ＋ よう” (食べる→食べよう); godan verbs = “お-row sound ＋ う” (言う→言おう, 行く→行こう, 思う→思おう). ⚠️Don't apply ichidan's rule to godan (✗言いようが → ○言おうが). Test: godan → お-row ＋ う (言おう／行こう), ichidan masu stem ＋ よう (食べよう); adjectives 〜かろう (高かろう), nouns 〜だろう (雨だろう).
③ The paired 「〜ようが〜まいが／〜ようと〜まいと」 = whether ～ or not, still ～. This is an important paired use. 「〜ようが〜まいが」 (or 〜ようと〜まいと) = “whether ～ or not, (the result) still ～” — pairing the same verb's “volitional (ようが)” and “negative conjecture (まいが),” for “whether one does it or not, it's the same”: 行こうが行くまいが、私には関係ない (whether he goes or not, it's nothing to me), 雨が降ろうが降るまいが、決行する (whether it rains or not, we'll go ahead). 「まい」 is the literary negative conjecture of 「〜ないだろう.」 Test: to say “whether ～ or not, still ～” → 〜ようが〜まいが (the same verb's volitional ＋ negative conjecture paired).
④ Separate it from 「ても」 — ようが／ようと is stronger and more written, ても more basic and general. Both express “even if ～, no matter ～,” differing in tone, register. 「〜ようが／ようと」 = no matter ～ (emphatic, resolute, written): 何を言われようが (no matter what I'm told — strong, resolute). It takes the volitional form, its tone stronger, more written, weightier, stressing the resolve “no matter what, unchanged.” 「〜ても」 = even if ～ (a more basic, general adversative concession, see 〈ても〉): 何を言われても (even if I'm told anything — plainer). It's the most basic, general concession, plainer in tone, spoken and written. Difference: 「ようが／ようと」 stronger, more written (takes the volitional, stressing resolve); 「ても」 more basic, general (see 〈ても〉). Test: to strongly, resolutely say “no matter ～ (unchanged)” → ようが／ようと; to generally say “even if ～” → ても.
🔄 Compare: ようが・ようと／ても／にしても／だろうと
| Form | Meaning | Emphasis | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| 〜ようが／ようと | no matter ～, even if ～ | emphatic, resolute (takes volitional, written) | 言われようが |
| 〜ても | even if ～ (see 〈ても〉) | a basic, general adversative concession | 言われても |
| 〜にしても／にしろ | even if ～ (see 〈にしても〉) | concession (can pair, more written) | 遅れるにしても |
| 〜ようが〜まいが | whether ～ or not, still ～ | doing or not, it's the same | 行こうが行くまいが |
💡 Quick takeaway
「〜ようが／〜ようと」 = no matter ～, even if ～ — three points: ① the core is the emphatic concession ‘no matter ～ (unchanged)' — stronger, more written than 「ても,」 with unshakable resolve (何を言われようが気にしない); ②⭐attachment is the volitional form, godan → お-row ＋ う (言おう, don't write ✗言いよう); ③ the paired 「〜ようが〜まいが」 = whether ～ or not, still ～. This concession has a real resolute, spirited flavor — 「たとえ何と言われようと、我が道を行く」 renders, resoundingly, that resolve of “whatever the world does, I won't waver.” To strongly, resolutely declare “no matter ～, still ～,” 「ようが／ようと」 has more weight than the plain 「ても」; for a general “even if ～,” use 「ても.」
❓ FAQ
Q: What's the difference between 「何と言われようが」 and 「何と言われても」?
The difference is ‘strength of tone, resolve' and ‘register.' 「〜ようが／ようと」 = no matter ～ (emphatic, resolute, more written): 「何と言われようが」 carries a strong, resolute, unshakable tone — “no matter what I'm told (I'll never ～),” stressing resolve, more written, weighty: たとえ何と言われようが、私は信念を曲げない (no matter what I'm told, I won't bend my conviction — a resolute declaration). It takes the volitional form (言われよう), resounding in tone. 「〜ても」 = even if ～ (more basic, general, plain, see 〈ても〉): 「何と言われても」 is plainer, more neutral, just a plain concession “even if I'm told anything (still ～),” spoken and written, without such strong resolve: 何と言われても、気にしないよ (whatever I'm told, I won't mind — more relaxed, plain). Difference: 「ようが／ようと」 stronger, more written, with resolve (stressing determination); 「ても」 more basic, general, plain (a general concession, see 〈ても〉). Test: to strongly, resolutely, weightily declare “no matter ～ (unwavering)” → ようが／ようと; to generally, plainly say “even if ～” → ても. So to spiritedly declare “no matter what I'm told, I won't change” use 「言われようが,」 for everyday “even if told, I won't mind” use 「言われても.」
Q: What does 「行こうが行くまいが」 mean? What is 「まい」?
「行こうが行くまいが」 = “whether one goes or not, (the result) still ～,” the paired use of 「〜ようが〜まいが,」 for “doing or not, it's the same.” Its structure pairs “(the same verb's) volitional (ようが = go, for one) ＋ negative conjecture (まいが = not go, for another)” — the volitional for the affirmative side (行こう = go), 「まい」 for the negative side (行くまい = not go), together “whether one goes or not, whether one does it or not.” 「まい」 is the literary negative conjecture auxiliary, meaning “probably won't ～／don't intend to ～,” and in 「〜まいが」 it means “not ～ (for one).” So: 行こうが行くまいが = go or not go (whether one goes), やろうがやるまいが = do or not do, 信じようが信じまいが = believe or not. It stresses “two opposite cases (do／not do), the result the same.” Test: on seeing 「〜ようが〜まいが (the same verb's volitional ＋ まい paired),」 read it as “whether ～ or not, still ～.” 「まい」's attachment: godan verb dictionary form ＋ まい (行くまい); ichidan mostly “ない-form minus ない ＋ まい” or dictionary form ＋ まい (食べまい／食べるまい); する→するまい／すまい, くる→くるまい／こまい. This 「〜ようが〜まいが」 is a forceful “whether pro or con, it's the same” expression.
🖊️ Practice Questions (5)
Q1. 「どんなに批判されよう___、自分の信念を曲げない。」(No matter how much I'm criticized, I won't bend my beliefs)
(A) ても (B) が (C) にもかかわらず (D) のに
Q2. 「成功しよう___失敗しよう___、最後までやり遂げる。」(Whether I succeed or fail, I'll see it through to the end)
(A) が、が (B) ても、ても (C) なら、なら (D) から、から
Q3. 「ようが」の語感の特徴は？
(A) 軽い口語の逆接（〜ても）
(B) 強い書面語・oratorical style の「no matter 〜」で、堅固な意志を示す
(C) 過去の事実に対する後悔
(D) 仮定（もし〜なら）
Q4. 「何が起きよう___、私は逃げない。」(No matter what happens, I won't run away)
(A) ても (B) なら (C) が (D) ので
Q5. 「周りに何と言われよう___、自分の道を歩む。」(No matter what those around me say, I'll walk my own path)
(A) が (B) ても (C) のに (D) から
Answer Explanations
1. (B) が ── 「批判されようが」(no matter how much I'm criticized), 「信念を曲げない」(won't bend my beliefs — a firm tone) = ようが expressing strong imperviousness.
2. (A) が、が ── 「成功しようが失敗しようが」(whether I succeed or fail), 「やり遂げる」(I'll complete it) = the intensified concessive form ようが〜ようが.
3. (B) ── The feature of ようが: a written / oratorical "no matter 〜," with a stronger, firmer tone than ても, often used to express strong will or stance.
4. (C) が ── 「何が起きようが」(no matter what happens), 「逃げない」(won't run) = ようが, a strong concession.
5. (A) が ──「何と言われようが、自分の道を歩む」(no matter what I'm told, I'll walk my own path) = verb volitional form + が (ようが) expressing strong concession. (B) ても / (C) のに / (D) から cannot attach after 「よう」.