“〜kutemo / 〜demo”: Adjective Concessive Conditional “even if 〜” [JLPT N4]
By Nihongo to Japan · Updated July 3, 2026
The te-form ＋ も concessive conditional for adjectives — even if it's expensive, even if it's convenient.
“〜kutemo / 〜demo”: Adjective Concessive Conditional “even if 〜”
The concessive conditional for adjectives, ‘even if 〜,' chosen by part of speech: い-adjectives — minus い ＋ くても (高い→高くても = even if expensive, 寒い→寒くても); な-adjectives/nouns — stem/noun ＋ でも (便利→便利でも = even if convenient, 雨→雨でも); いい irregular — よくても. E.g. 「高くても、品質が良ければ買う」 (even if expensive, I'll buy it if the quality is good), 「便利でも、高すぎると売れない」 (even if convenient, it won't sell if too expensive). ⚠️ Key: い-adjectives use くても, な-adjectives/nouns use でも! (✗ 高いでも, ✗ 便利くても). ⚠️ Don't confuse with 「〜てもいい (permission, may …)」 — くても/でも is ‘even if …' (a concessive conditional). ⚠️ Often with 「いくら〜ても (no matter how …)」.
🧠 Core nuance: even if the first holds, the latter is unchanged (concessive supposition)
The core is expressing ‘even if the first (an adjective) holds, the latter still holds/is unchanged' — a concessive conditional: ① い-adjectives — minus ‘い' ＋ くても (高い→高くても = even if expensive, 寒い→寒くても = even if cold, 難しい→難しくても = even if difficult); ② な-adjectives — stem ＋ でも (便利→便利でも = even if convenient, 静か→静かでも, 好き→好きでも); ③ nouns — noun ＋ でも (雨でも = even if it rains, 子供でも = even a child); ④ いい (good) irregular — よくても (even if good). The meaning is ‘even under this (hypothetical, extreme) first situation, the latter still …' (高くても買う = buy even if expensive, まずくても食べる = eat even if it tastes bad). ⚠️ Core rule contrast: 「い-adjective → くても」 「な-adjective・noun → でも」! The most common mistake is swapping them (✗ 高いでも→高くても, ✗ 便利くても→便利でも). ⚠️ Don't confuse with 「〜てもいい (permission: may …)」 — くても/でも is the concessive conditional ‘even if …,' てもいい is permission. ⚠️ Often with 「いくら〜ても/どんなに〜ても (no matter how …)」 for emphasis (いくら高くても = no matter how expensive). An N4 adjective-concessive pattern.
📌 Connection Rules
| Part of speech | Rule | Example |
|---|---|---|
| い-adjective | minus い ＋ くても | 高い→高くても |
| な-adjective | stem ＋ でも | 便利→便利でも |
| noun | ＋ でも | 雨→雨でも |
| いい (irregular) | よくても | いい→よくても |
💬 Example Sentences
- 値段が高くても、品質が良ければ買う価値がある。(Even if expensive, it's worth buying if the quality is good.) — い-adjective
- この仕事は大変でも、やりがいがある。(Even if this job is tough, it's rewarding.) — な-adjective
- 天気が悪くても、試合は行います。(Even if the weather is bad, the match goes ahead.) — い-adjective
- いくら高くても、欲しい物は買います。(No matter how expensive, I buy what I want.) — いくら〜ても
- 便利でも、高すぎると売れない。(Even if convenient, it won't sell if too expensive.) — な-adjective
🔄 Compare: くても/でも vs てもいい vs ても(verb) vs ば
| Expression | Nuance | Example |
|---|---|---|
| い-adj ＋ くても | even if 〜 (concessive conditional) | 高くても買う |
| な-adj/noun ＋ でも | even if 〜 (concessive conditional) | 便利でも、雨でも |
| 〜てもいい | may 〜 (permission) | 食べてもいい |
| verb te-form ＋ も | even if 〜 (verb concessive) | 行っても |
⚠️ Common Mistakes
- Don't swap the rules: い-adjectives use くても (高くても, ✗ 高いでも); な-adjectives/nouns use でも (便利でも, ✗ 便利くても).
- いい is irregular: いい→よくても (even if good, ✗ いくても).
- Don't confuse with てもいい: くても/でも = even if … (concessive); てもいい = may … (permission).
- Often with いくら〜ても: いくら高くても, どんなに難しくても (no matter how …).
💡 Nuance & When to Use
The adjective concessive conditional ‘even if 〜': い-adjectives minus い ＋ くても (高くても = even if expensive), な-adjectives/nouns ＋ でも (便利でも, 雨でも), いい irregular よくても. ⚠️ Key: い-adj くても, な-adj/noun でも (don't swap)! Don't confuse with 「てもいい (permission)」. Often with いくら〜ても/どんなに〜ても for emphasis. An N4 adjective-concessive pattern — memorize it.
🎯 JLPT Exam Tips
- N4 core: adjective concessive ‘even if 〜' — い-adjective → くても (高くても), な-adjective・noun → でも (便利でも/雨でも), いい→よくても.
- Most common mistake: swapping the rules (✗ 高いでも, ✗ 便利くても); い-adj くても, な-adj/noun でも.
- Distinction: くても/でも (even if …, concessive) vs てもいい (may, permission); often with いくら〜ても.
🖊️ Practice Quiz
Q1. 「高___ても、品質が良ければ買う。」(even if expensive) Which is correct?
(A) く (B) い (C) かっ (D) くって
Q2. 「この問題は___でも、あきらめない。」(even if tough — な-adjective 大変) Which is correct?
(A) 大変く (B) 大変 (C) 大変で (D) 大変い
Q3. 「天気が___ても、試合は行います。」(even if the weather is bad) Which is correct?
(A) 悪いて (B) 悪くて (C) 悪くても (D) 悪いでも
Q4. 「いくら___ても、欲しい物は買います。」(no matter how expensive — 高い) What's most natural?
(A) 高く (B) 高い (C) 高くって (D) 高いく
Q5. 「便利___、高すぎると売れない。」(even if convenient — な-adjective 便利) Which is correct?
(A) 便利くても (B) 便利でも (C) 便利いでも (D) 便利だも
Answer Key
1. (A) く ── い-adjective concessive: minus い ＋ くても (高い→高くても).
2. (B) 大変 ── な-adjective ＋ でも (大変でも = even if tough); the stem ＋ でも, no く.
3. (C) 悪くても ── い-adjective 悪い→悪くても (even if bad). (B) 悪くて is just the te-form, without ‘even if.'
4. (A) 高く ── いくら〜ても uses くても for い-adjectives: いくら高くても.
5. (B) 便利でも ── 便利 is a な-adjective, so でも: 便利でも (✗ 便利くても).