Lesson 157: にもかかわらず・にしても・にしたら

N2 · Lesson 157 · 18 min — Despite ~, even if ~ / either way ~, and thinking from the other person's side: deciding to go to Kyoto together

Last lesson, Neko-sensei told Rin that Hana is his grandmother. Rin fainted on the spot, and Neko-sensei even ate Rin's ramen... This lesson has three phrases for "giving ground" and "point of view": にもかかわらず (despite ~), にしても (even if ~ / either way), and にしたら (from ~'s side). Read the comic first!

After this lesson, you can:

• Use にもかかわらず for "despite ~", and tell it apart from のに and from にかかわらず (Lesson 145)
• Use にしても / にしろ / にせよ for "even if ~" and "whether A or B, ~"
• Use にしたら / にすれば to speak from someone else's side, and tell it apart from にとって
• Understand and use two common phrases: それにしても (still / even so) and どちらにしても (either way)

The 50-Year Promise

Rin is awake. Neko-sensei, who eats ramen with him every day, turns out to be Hana's grandson! (気きづく＝to notice, 祖母そぼ＝my own grandmother, 祖父そふ＝my own grandfather, 約束やくそく＝promise, 夢ゆめ＝dream)

にもかかわらず＝despite ~; にしても＝even if ~ / either way; にしたら＝from ~'s side. Rin grumbled with のに. For everyday complaints use のに; にもかかわらず is more formal. Next: Grandpa!

Words for this lesson: giving ground, point of view, and promises

• 〜にもかかわらず (ni mo kakawarazu): despite ~; even though ~
• 〜にしても (ni shite mo): even if ~; whether A or B, ~
• 〜にしろ／〜にせよ (ni shiro / ni seyo): ＝にしても (firmer; にせよ is the most formal, for writing)
• 〜にしたら／〜にすれば (ni shitara / ni sureba): from ~'s point of view
• それにしても (sore ni shite mo): still / even so, ~ really is ...
• どちらにしても (dochira ni shite mo): either way; anyway
• 祖母そぼ (sobo): (my own) grandmother
• 約束やくそく (yakusoku): promise
• 気きづく (kizuku): to notice
• 一緒いっしょ (issho): together
• 夢 (yume): dream
• いつまでも (itsumademo): forever; always
• 努力どりょく (doryoku): effort
• 試合しあい (shiai): match; game
• 大勢おおぜい (ōzei): many people
• 満席まんせき (manseki): full house
• 遅おくれる (okureru): to be late
• 連絡れんらく (renraku): contact
• 孫 (mago): grandchild
• つらい (tsurai): painful; hard to bear

Grammar 1 / 3: にもかかわらず

Plain form / noun＋にもかかわらず＝despite ~: the first part is a fact, and the result is "not what you'd expect". 雨あめにもかかわらず、試合しあいは 行おこなわれた＝Despite the rain, the game was held.

• Form: plain form / N＋にもかかわらず: With verbs and い-adjectives, use the plain form: 降ふって いる にもかかわらず、寒さむい にもかかわらず. Nouns connect directly, with no だ: 雨あめにもかかわらず. With な-adjectives, use 〜である before it (also common in formal writing): 静しずかである にもかかわらず.
• Meaning: despite ~, ...: The first part is a settled fact (not an "if ~" idea). The result goes against what you'd expect. It can carry admiration or surprise, or regret and dissatisfaction.
• Compare with のに: のに is spoken and more emotional, often used to complain: 雨あめなのに! にもかかわらず is more formal and common in news, reports and speeches. Neither can be followed by invitations like 〜ましょう or requests like 〜て ください.
• Compare with にかかわらず (Lesson 145): Just one も apart, but the meaning is completely different: 天気てんきにかかわらず＝regardless of the weather (no matter which); 雨あめにもかかわらず＝despite the rain (it is already raining).

• 毎日まいにち 一緒いっしょだった にもかかわらず、気きづかなかった。 — Despite being together every day, we didn't notice.
• 雨あめにもかかわらず、試合しあいは 行おこなわれた。 — Despite the rain, the game was held as planned.
• 努力どりょくした にもかかわらず、合格ごうかくできなかった。 — Despite his efforts, he failed the exam.
• 雪ゆきにもかかわらず、お客きゃくさんが 大勢おおぜい 来きた。 — Despite the snow, many customers came.
• 寒さむい にもかかわらず、たくさんの 人ひとが 署名しょめいして くれた。 — Despite the cold weather, many people helped by signing the petition.

Grammar 2 / 3: にしても

Plain form / noun＋にしても＝even if ~; AにしてもBにしても＝whether A or B, ~. にしろ and にせよ mean the same but sound firmer. どちらにしても＝either way, ~.

• Form: plain form / N＋にしても: With verbs and い-adjectives, use the plain form: 行いく にしても、遅おくれる にしても、高たかい にしても. Nouns connect directly: 肉にくにしても. Don't use the て-form: ✗遅おくれて にしても.
• Meaning 1: even if ~: You accept one situation (it may be a possibility or a fact), then say "even so, ~". The second part is often the speaker's judgment, request or will. Unlike にもかかわらず, a request can follow: 遅おくれる にしても、連絡れんらくして ください.
• Meaning 2: AにしてもBにしても: You list two options: "whether A or B, the result is the same": 行いく にしても 行いかない にしても. Add にしても to both. A fixed phrase: どちらにしても＝either way.
• にしろ, にせよ and それにしても: にしろ and にせよ mean the same as にしても. にしろ sounds a bit firmer and is used in speech too. にせよ is the most formal: どちらにせよ. それにしても is another common phrase: "still / even so, ~ really is ...". Use it to change the subject or react. It does not mean "so".

• どちらにしても、会あいに 行いこう。 — Either way, let's go meet her.
• 遅おくれる にしても、連絡れんらくは して ください。 — Even if you'll be late, please contact me first.
• 行いく にしても 行いかない にしても、明日あしたまでに 返事へんじを ください。 — Whether you go or not, please reply by tomorrow.
• どちらにせよ、一度いちど 京都きょうとへ 行いく 必要ひつようが ある。 — Either way, we have to make a trip to Kyoto.
• それにしても、今日きょうは 寒さむいですね。 — Still, it's really cold today, isn't it?

Grammar 3 / 3: にしたら

Noun (person)＋にしたら / にすれば＝from ~'s point of view: you swap places and imagine that person's feelings or thoughts. 祖母そぼにしたら、五十年ごじゅうねん 待まった 約束やくそくだ＝From Grandma's point of view, it's a promise she waited 50 years for.

• Form: N (person)＋にしたら / にすれば: Put a person or a group before it: 祖母そぼにしたら、お店みせにすれば. にすれば means the same as にしたら. A verb can't connect directly. Make it describe a noun first: 待まつ 人ひとにしたら.
• Meaning: from ~'s point of view: The speaker "swaps places" and imagines how that person feels or thinks. So guesses like だろう, と 思おもう or みたいだ often follow. Requests like "please ~" do not.
• Compare with にとって: To give your own opinion of something (hard, easy, important), にとって is the most natural: わたしにとって、漢字かんじは やさしい. にしたら is mainly for stepping into "someone else's" place, with a feeling of "I think that's how they must feel".
• Don't mix it up with としたら: You learned としたら before: "if ~ is the case": 行いく としたら. In this lesson's にしたら, a person comes first, and it means "from that person's point of view". Also, noun＋にしたら can be にする (to decide on) ＋たら: コーヒーにしたら＝if you choose coffee.

• 祖母そぼにしたら、五十年ごじゅうねん 待まった 約束やくそくだ。 — From Grandma's point of view, it's a promise she waited 50 years for.
• おじいちゃんにすれば、夢ゆめみたいな 話はなしだろう。 — If it were Grandpa, it would probably feel like a dream.
• お客きゃくさんにしたら、一時間いちじかん 待まつのは 長ながい。 — From a customer's point of view, an hour's wait is too long.
• 親おやにしたら、子こどもは いつまでも 子こどもだ。 — From a parent's point of view, a child is always a child.
• 反対はんたいする 人ひとにすれば、道路どうろの 安全あんぜんの ほうが 大切たいせつなのだ。 — From the point of view of people who object, road safety matters more.