“〜mite mo・doko kara mite mo”: No Matter How You Look At It [JLPT N3]
Content by NTJ Kuma · Nihongo to Japan editorial team · Updated July 27, 2026
Holding true from every angle, or from any angle
「どう見ても怪しい」 — 「見ても」, no matter how / from any angle you look
「どう見ても、これは怪しい」 (however you look at it, this is suspicious) — 「question word (どう／誰が／どこから) ＋ 見ても」 means “no matter from what angle or by whom you look, the conclusion holds,” stressing that a judgment is indisputable, beyond doubt. This guide covers 「どう見ても・誰が見ても・どこから見ても」's use, that “whoever, whatever angle, it's the same” feel, and separates it from 「ても／にしても／どう考えても」.
Core: change any angle/anyone, the conclusion is the same
「〜見ても」 = “all-around concession ＋ affirmation” — no matter how (どう), by whom (誰が), or from where (どこから) you look, you reach the same conclusion:
- どう見ても = however you look: どう見ても、彼が犯人だ (however you look at it, he's the culprit).
- 誰が見ても = whoever looks: 誰が見ても、これは失敗だ (anyone can see this is a failure).
- どこから見ても = from any angle: どこから見ても完璧だ (perfect from any angle).
Feel: “whatever angle/whoever, the conclusion doesn't change” — stressing an indisputable judgment.
How to Connect
| Form | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| どう見ても | however you look | どう見ても本物 |
| 誰が見ても | whoever looks | 誰が見ても明らか |
| どこから見ても | from any angle | どこから見ても完璧 |
Example sentences
- どう見ても、これは怪しい。(However you look at it, this is suspicious.) — however you look
- 誰が見ても、これは彼の字だ。(Anyone can see this is his handwriting.) — whoever looks
- 息子は、どこからどう見ても父親にそっくりだ。(My son is the spitting image of his father from any angle, any way you look.) — all-around
- どう見ても、本物にしか見えない。(However you look, it can only be the real thing.) — assertion
- この状況は、誰が見ても明らかにおかしい。(This situation is clearly wrong to anyone.) — indisputable
⚠️ Easy traps to avoid
① Word order/particle: 「誰が見ても」「どこから見ても」. It's 「誰が見ても」 (whoever looks) and 「どこから見ても」 (from any angle) — don't write 「誰見てもが」「どこ見てもから」. The particle after the question word (が／から) must sit in the right place.
② 「どう見ても」 (however you look) vs 「どんなに見ても」 (no matter how closely you look). Learners often misuse 「どんなに見ても」. どう見ても = from any angle/way you look, the conclusion is… (changing angle); どんなに〜ても = no matter how ~ (degree), usually with a measurable-degree word (どんなに探しても = no matter how hard I search). For “however you look (same conclusion),” use 「どう見ても」, not 「どんなに見ても」.
③ The second clause is an ‘indisputable judgment.' The 見ても set stresses a conclusion beyond doubt, indisputable (どう見ても本物 = it's real however you look), followed by a firm judgment/assertion (〜だ, 〜に違いない, 〜としか思えない). It states things as “beyond dispute,” a very confident tone — use it without being too dogmatic.
🔄 Compare: 〜見ても／〜ても／にしても／どう考えても
| Form | Feel | Example |
|---|---|---|
| question word ＋ 見ても | from any angle you look (indisputable) | どう見ても本物 |
| 〜ても | even if… (a single concession) | 見ても分からない （even if you look, you won't understand） |
| 〜にしても | even if…, even so (concession) | 高いにしても買う |
| どう考えても | however you think (the ‘think' version of 見ても) | どう考えても変だ |
💡 Learning tip
「どう見ても・誰が見ても・どこから見ても」 stress “no matter from what angle or by whom you look, the conclusion is the same (indisputable)”: どう見ても (however you look), 誰が見ても (whoever looks), どこから見ても (from any angle). It states a judgment as beyond doubt, ironclad (どう見ても本物 = it's real however you look, 誰が見ても失敗 = anyone can see it's a failure). Three points: ① particle placement (誰が見ても, どこから見ても); ② don't misuse 「どんなに見ても」 (that's about degree, this is about angle); ③ followed by a firm judgment (〜だ, 〜に違いない). It works in both speech and writing, but since it states things as “beyond dispute,” don't be too dogmatic. To flatly say “however you look, it's…,” this set is the most forceful.
❓ Common questions
Q: How do I tell 「どう見ても」 from 「どんなに見ても」? (learners often misuse it)
By “angle/way” vs “degree.” 「どう見ても」 = from any angle, any way you look, the conclusion is (the same, indisputable): どう見ても本物だ (it's real however you look — whatever angle, the conclusion is “real”), どう見ても彼のほうが悪い (however you look, he's the one at fault). It stresses “change the angle/way, the conclusion doesn't change,” followed by a firm judgment. 「どんなに〜ても」 = no matter how ~ (an extreme concession of degree), usually with a measurable-degree verb/adjective: どんなに探しても見つからない (no matter how hard I search, I can't find it — degree: however much I search), どんなに忙しくても、運動する (no matter how busy, I exercise). It stresses “however high the degree, still….” So: “however you look (same conclusion)” → どう見ても (angle); “no matter how ~” → どんなに〜ても (degree). For “from any angle you look, it's…,” use 「どう見ても」; 「どんなに見ても」 is unnatural.
Q: How do I place the particles in 「誰が見ても」「どこから見ても」?
The particle after the question word goes in the right spot before 「見ても」: ① 「誰が見ても」 (が) = no matter “who” looks — the subject is “who,” so the nominative 「が」: 誰が見ても明らかだ (it's clear to anyone). ✗ 誰見てもが. ② 「どこから見ても」 (から) = from “where” you look — marking a starting point/angle, so 「から」: どこから見ても完璧だ (perfect from any angle). ✗ どこ見てもから. ③ 「どう見ても」 (no particle) = “how, in what way” you look — どう is an adverbial question word, attaching directly to 見ても: どう見ても変だ (it's odd however you look). Mnemonic: 誰『が』見ても, どこ『から』見ても, どう見ても (どう takes no particle). The particle hugs the question word (誰が／どこから), not placed after 「見ても」. Also common is 「どこからどう見ても」 (from anywhere, any way — reinforcing all-around).
🖊️ Practice Questions (5)
Q1. 「___見ても、これは彼の字だ。」(no matter who looks, it's his handwriting)
(A) 誰が (B) いつ (C) どこへ (D) なぜ
Q2. 「___見ても、本物だ。」(however you look at it, it's genuine)
(A) どう (B) どこへ (C) いつ (D) なぜ
Q3. 「どこから見ても完璧だ」の意味は?
(A) Perfect from any angle
(B) Perfect from only one angle
(C) Not perfect at all
(D) Can't see
Q4. 「〜から見ても」の「も」が表すのは?
(A) Even when viewed from ~ (concession)
(B) Parallel
(C) Question
(D) Negation
Q5. 用法が自然なのは?
(A) どう見ても怪しい。 (B) どこ見てもから怪しい。
(C) 誰見てもが正しい。 (D) どう見てへも本物。
Answer Explanations
1. (A) 誰が ── 誰が見ても (no matter who looks).
2. (A) どう ── どう見ても (however you look).
3. (A) ── perfect from every angle.
4. (A) ── 「も」 means 'even when viewed from ~'.
5. (A) ── 「どう見ても怪しい」 is correct.