“〜de are 〜de are・〜ni shiro 〜ni shiro”: Whether A or B (emphatic paired concession) [JLPT N2]

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

「行くにしろ行かないにしろ早めに決めて」 — pair up two cases; the conclusion holds either way.

「賛成にしろ反対にしろ、理由を聞かせて」 — whichever side, the conclusion is the same

In a meeting: 「賛成にしろ反対にしろ、まず理由を聞かせてください」 (whether you agree or oppose, first let me hear your reasons) — 「〜であれ〜であれ・〜にしろ〜にしろ」 = whether A or B (still …), listing two opposites or options and stressing “whichever it is, the conclusion holds.” It's a written, literary-flavored N2 emphatic-concessive pattern. This guide covers its attachment and how to tell it from 「にせよ〜にせよ」「にかかわらず.」

Core: whether A or B, still ～

This set lists two opposites/options, meaning “whichever it is, the result/conclusion is the same”:

• 〜であれ〜であれ: 男であれ女であれ、能力で評価する (whether man or woman, evaluate by ability).
• 〜にしろ〜にしろ: 賛成にしろ反対にしろ、理由が要る (whether for or against, reasons are needed).
• 〜にせよ〜にせよ (more literary): 行くにせよ行かないにせよ、連絡して (whether you go or not, contact me).

Feel: “whether A or B (still …)” — the core is listing two opposites/options, stressing that ‘whichever doesn't affect the conclusion' (concession). The main clause is “still …, must … either way, doesn't matter.” It leans written, literary, formal in tone.

Attachment rules

Examples in use

• 理由が何であれ、暴力は許されない。(Whatever the reason, violence is not permitted.)
• 大人であれ子供であれ、ルールは守るべきだ。(Whether adult or child, rules should be kept.)
• 参加するにしろしないにしろ、返事はしてほしい。(Whether you join or not, I'd like a reply.)
• 成功にせよ失敗にせよ、経験にはなる。(Whether success or failure, it becomes experience.)
• どんな結果であれ、全力を尽くしただけだ。(Whatever the result, I simply gave it my all.)

⚠️ Easy traps to avoid

① List a pair of ‘opposites/options.' The use of 「〜であれ〜であれ／〜にしろ〜にしろ」 is to list two opposites or options, meaning “whichever”: 男であれ女であれ (man or woman), 賛成にしろ反対にしろ (for or against), 行くにせよ行かないにせよ (go or not). So put a pair of opposite/relative things before it (A vs B, する vs しない). The main clause is a “still …, either way …” conclusion. Listing just one, or unpaired words, isn't this “whether A or B” use. (You can also use 「question word ＋ であれ」 alone for “whatever ～”: 何であれ = whatever, 誰であれ = whoever.)

② This set leans written/literary; speech uses 「〜でも〜でも」「どっちにしても.」 「であれ・にしろ・にせよ」 all have a literary, written, formal color, mostly for formal writing, speeches, argument. For everyday “whether A or B,” the colloquial 「〜でも〜でも」「AでもBでも」「どっちにしても (either way)」 is more natural: colloquial 「賛成でも反対でも、理由を教えて」 / written 「賛成にしろ反対にしろ、理由を述べよ.」 Using 「にせよ・であれ」 in casual chat sounds too stiff. Test: formal writing, argument → にしろ／にせよ／であれ; everyday speech → 〜でも〜でも／どっちにしても.

③ Attachment: であれ mostly on nouns, にしろ／にせよ on nouns and verbs. The attachment divides slightly. 「〜であれ」 mainly attaches to nouns (男であれ, 理由が何であれ); with verbs/adjectives it's rare (switching to 「〜（よ）うと」). 「〜にしろ／にせよ」 attaches to nouns or verb・adjective plain forms (する にしろ, 高い にしろ, 学生 にしろ). Of the three, 「にしろ」 is a bit more colloquial, 「にせよ」 the most literary, 「であれ」 mostly with nouns and solemn. To attach a verb's opposites (する・しない), 「にしろ／にせよ」 is smoothest.

🔄 Compare: であれ〜であれ／にしろ〜にしろ／にせよ〜にせよ／にかかわらず

💡 Quick takeaway

「〜であれ〜であれ・〜にしろ〜にしろ・〜にせよ〜にせよ」 are all emphatic-concessive patterns for “whether A or B (still …)” — three points: ① list a pair of opposites/options (男であれ女であれ, 賛成にしろ反対にしろ, 行くにせよ行かないにせよ), the main clause “either is the same”; ② they lean written/literary — formal argument uses them; for everyday “whether A or B,” 「〜でも〜でも」「どっちにしても」 is more natural; ③ attachment divides — であれ mostly on nouns, にしろ／にせよ on nouns and verbs (にせよ most literary, にしろ a bit colloquial). Comparing relatives: this set lists concrete options, while 〈にかかわらず〉 is the abstract “regardless of ～, unaffected” (and don't confuse it with 「にもかかわらず = despite」). To solemnly say “whether A or B, still …” in a formal setting, this concessive set carries weight.

❓ Common questions

Q: What's the difference between 「にしろ〜にしろ」「にせよ〜にせよ」「であれ〜であれ」?

The three are nearly identical in meaning (all “whether A or B, still …”), interchangeable, differing mainly in attachment tendency and subtle register. 「〜にしろ〜にしろ」: attaches to a noun or verb・adjective plain form, the slightly more colloquial of the three (relatively — overall still written): 行くにしろ行かないにしろ, 賛成にしろ反対にしろ, 暑いにしろ寒いにしろ. 「〜にせよ〜にせよ」: meaning and use nearly the same as 「にしろ,」 but more literary, more formal, mostly for writing, speeches: 成功にせよ失敗にせよ, 行くにせよ行かないにせよ. 「〜であれ〜であれ」: mainly attaches to nouns (verbs rarer), solemn, literary in tone: 男であれ女であれ, 理由が何であれ, 大人であれ子供であれ. It's also often used alone as 「question word ＋ であれ」 (誰であれ = whoever, いつであれ = whenever). Test: for a verb's opposites (する・しない) → にしろ／にせよ is smoothest; for listing nouns (man/woman, adult/child) → であれ〜であれ or にしろ〜にしろ both work; for the most literary/formal use にせよ／であれ, for a bit more colloquial use にしろ. The three are synonymous variants of one type — know one and you'll understand the others.

Q: 「であれ〜であれ」 and 「にかかわらず」 both mean ‘no matter' — how do I tell them apart?

The difference is “listing concrete options” vs “abstractly regardless.” 「〜であれ〜であれ／にしろ〜にしろ」 = whether A or B: it lists two concrete opposites or options as a pair, stressing “whether this or that, the same”: 男であれ女であれ (whether man or woman — concretely listing man/woman), 賛成にしろ反対にしろ (whether for or against — concretely listing two stances). It lays out the options one by one and says “either …” 「〜にかかわらず」 = regardless of ～, no matter (unaffected by a condition): it abstractly expresses “unswayed by a certain condition,” usually attaching to a range or contrast noun (not necessarily laid out as a pair): 年齢にかかわらず (regardless of age — unaffected by age), 天候にかかわらず (regardless of weather). Test: to concretely list ‘whether A or B' as two options (laid out) → であれ〜であれ／にしろ〜にしろ; to abstractly say ‘regardless of／unaffected by ～' → にかかわらず (see 〈にかかわらず〉). E.g. 「男であれ女であれ (whether man or woman, options laid out)」 and 「性別にかかわらず (regardless of gender, abstractly unaffected)」 are close, but the former lists, the latter is abstract. Also a reminder: 「にかかわらず (regardless)」 must be separated from 「にもかかわらず (despite, adversative)」 — a completely different meaning.

🖊️ Practice Questions (5)

Q1. 「行く___行かない___、早めに決めてください。」(whether you go or not)

(A) にしろ、にしろ　(B) ながら、ながら　(C) たり、たり　(D) ても、ても

Q2. 「大人___子供___」(whether adult or child) How do nouns attach?

(A) であれ、であれ　(B) だから、だから　(C) なので、なので　(D) でも、でも

Q3. What does 「雨にしろ雪にしろ決行する」 mean?

(A) It will go ahead whether it rains or snows

(B) It proceeds only on clear days

(C) It's cancelled if it rains

(D) It proceeds only if it snows

Q4. How is 「にしろ〜にしろ」 used?

(A) Used in pairs, listing opposing/representative items

(B) used on its own

(C) can only be used once

(D) indicates cause and effect

Q5. Which usage is natural?

(A) 賛成にせよ反対にせよ、参加すべきだ。　(B) 賛成にしろ(単独)。

(C) 大人だしろ子供だしろ。　(D) 行くであれ来るであれ(動詞は にしろ)。

Answer Explanations

1. (A) にしろ、にしろ ── Whether you go or not.

2. (A) であれ、であれ ── Nouns use であれ.

3. (A) ── It proceeds whether it rains or snows.

4. (A) ── Used in pairs, listing opposing items.

5. (A) ── 「にせよ〜にせよ」 is correct; verbs in plain form use にしろ/にせよ.