# とも～とも: unable to draw a conclusion; unable to judge

> Learn how to use とも～とも (tomo~tomo), a JLPT N1 Japanese grammar point meaning unable to draw a conclusion or judge, with examples, formation, and comparisons.

JLPT level: N1 · Updated: 2026-05-18 · Canonical: https://hane-app.com/blog/n1-tomo-tomo/

<div class="pullquote">
  When you can't decide between two sides, とも～とも puts both in front of you — and then says, “I just can’t say.”
</div>

**とも～とも** means **unable to draw a conclusion; unable to judge**. It is a **JLPT N1** Japanese grammar pattern used to present two contrasting possibilities and then deny the ability to choose or evaluate between them.

This pattern shows up in formal arguments, critical reviews, and abstract discussions. If you want to express that something defies a clear categorization or that you absolutely can’t lean one way or the other, **とも～とも** is a precise tool that adds depth to your Japanese.

## What does とも～とも mean?

Use **とも～とも** when you want to present two opposing descriptions, judgments, or possibilities and then state that you cannot draw a conclusion about which one applies. The final verb is almost always negative — typically <ruby class="furi"><rb><ruby>言<rp>(</rp><rt>げん</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby></rb><rt>い</rt></ruby>えない (can’t say), <ruby class="furi"><rb><ruby>決<rp>(</rp><rt>けつ</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby></rb><rt>き</rt></ruby>められない (can’t decide), or <ruby class="furi"><rb><ruby>分<rp>(</rp><rt>ぶん</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby></rb><rt>わ</rt></ruby>からない (can’t tell).

Natural translations include:
- I can’t say whether it’s A or B
- It’s impossible to judge either way
- You can’t call it one thing or the other

The structure forces you to name two contrasting endpoints. By pairing them with ～とも, then ending on a negative judgement, you suspend a final verdict — deliberately.

## How to form とも～とも

Attach とも to two contrasting words or phrases, then follow with a negative evaluation or declarative verb.

<div class="formation">
  <div class="formula">
    <span class="ftoken t-stem">い-adj</span> <span class="fplus">＋</span> <span class="ftoken t-conn">いとも</span>  +  <span class="ftoken t-stem">い-adj</span> <span class="fplus">＋</span> <span class="ftoken t-conn">いとも</span> <span class="farrow">→</span> <span class="ftoken t-core"><ruby>言え<rp>(</rp><rt>いえ</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby>ない</span>
  </div>
  <div class="formula">
    <span class="ftoken t-stem">な-adj</span> <span class="fplus">＋</span> <span class="ftoken t-conn">であるとも</span> + <span class="ftoken t-stem">な-adj</span> <span class="fplus">＋</span> <span class="ftoken t-conn">であるとも</span> <span class="farrow">→</span> <span class="ftoken t-core"><ruby>決め<rp>(</rp><rt>きめ</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby>られない</span>
  </div>
  <div class="formula">
    <span class="ftoken t-stem">Verb (plain)</span> <span class="fplus">＋</span> <span class="ftoken t-conn">とも</span> + <span class="ftoken t-stem">Verb (plain)</span> <span class="fplus">＋</span> <span class="ftoken t-conn">とも</span> <span class="farrow">→</span> <span class="ftoken t-core"><ruby>言え<rp>(</rp><rt>いえ</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby>ない</span>
  </div>
  <div class="formula">
    <span class="ftoken t-stem">Noun</span> <span class="fplus">＋</span> <span class="ftoken t-conn">とも</span> + <span class="ftoken t-stem">Noun</span> <span class="fplus">＋</span> <span class="ftoken t-conn">とも</span> <span class="farrow">→</span> <span class="ftoken t-core">つかない</span> (settled with <ruby class="furi"><rb><ruby>結着<rp>(</rp><rt>けっちゃく</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby></rb><rt>けっちゃく</rt></ruby>がつかない etc.)
  </div>
</div>

Examples of the pattern:
- <ruby class="furi"><rb><ruby>高<rp>(</rp><rt>こう</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby></rb><rt>たか</rt></ruby>いとも<ruby class="furi"><rb><ruby>安<rp>(</rp><rt>あん</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby></rb><rt>やす</rt></ruby>いとも → <ruby>言え<rp>(</rp><rt>いえ</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby>ない
- <ruby class="furi"><rb><ruby>良<rp>(</rp><rt>りょう</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby></rb><rt>よ</rt></ruby>いとも<ruby class="furi"><rb><ruby>悪<rp>(</rp><rt>わる</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby></rb><rt>わる</rt></ruby>いとも → <ruby>判断<rp>(</rp><rt>はんだん</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby>できない
- <ruby class="furi"><rb><ruby>賛成<rp>(</rp><rt>さんせい</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby></rb><rt>さんせい</rt></ruby>とも<ruby class="furi"><rb><ruby>反対<rp>(</rp><rt>はんたい</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby></rb><rt>はんたい</rt></ruby>とも → <ruby>言い切れ<rp>(</rp><rt>いいきれ</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby>ない

The two members must be semantically opposed or at least form a natural pair. In JLPT questions, a common distractor is using 〜とも only once, or pairing it with a positive final verb.

## When is とも～とも used?

Use **とも～とも** in situations like:
- reviewing a book, film, or product and refusing to give a simple thumbs-up/thumbs-down
- discussing an ambiguous person or situation where two labels both feel half-true
- expressing intellectual caution in formal writing, academic papers, or editorials
- showing that the evidence doesn’t point clearly to either conclusion

Tone and register:
- neutral to formal; very common in written, analytical Japanese
- casual use with friends is possible when you want to emphasize genuine indecision
- Frequently encountered in JLPT N1 reading and grammar sections, especially in passages that argue multiple perspectives.

## とも～とも example sentences

<div class="examples">
  <div class="example">
    <div class="example-jp">
      <ruby class="furi"><rb><ruby>高<rp>(</rp><rt>こう</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby></rb><rt>たか</rt></ruby>いとも<ruby class="furi"><rb><ruby>安<rp>(</rp><rt>あん</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby></rb><rt>やす</rt></ruby>いとも<ruby class="furi"><rb><ruby>言<rp>(</rp><rt>げん</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby></rb><rt>い</rt></ruby>えない。
    </div>
    <div class="example-en">I can’t say whether it’s expensive or cheap.</div>
    <div class="example-foot">
      <span class="example-tag"><ruby>日常<rp>(</rp><rt>にちじょう</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby><ruby>会話<rp>(</rp><rt>かいわ</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby></span>
    </div>
  </div>
  <div class="example">
    <div class="example-jp">
      あの<ruby class="furi"><rb><ruby>政策<rp>(</rp><rt>せいさく</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby></rb><rt>せいさく</rt></ruby>は<ruby class="furi"><rb><ruby>成功<rp>(</rp><rt>せいこう</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby></rb><rt>せいこう</rt></ruby>とも<ruby class="furi"><rb><ruby>失敗<rp>(</rp><rt>しっぱい</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby></rb><rt>しっぱい</rt></ruby>とも<ruby>言え<rp>(</rp><rt>いえ</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby>ない。
    </div>
    <div class="example-en">That policy can’t be called either a success or a failure.</div>
    <div class="example-foot">
      <span class="example-tag"><ruby>報道<rp>(</rp><rt>ほうどう</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby></span>
    </div>
  </div>
  <div class="example">
    <div class="example-jp">
      この<ruby class="furi"><rb><ruby>絵<rp>(</rp><rt>え</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby></rb><rt>え</rt></ruby>は<ruby class="furi"><rb><ruby>美<rp>(</rp><rt>び</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby></rb><rt>うつく</rt></ruby>しいとも<ruby class="furi"><rb><ruby>醜<rp>(</rp><rt>しゅう</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby></rb><rt>みにく</rt></ruby>いとも<ruby>言え<rp>(</rp><rt>いえ</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby>ない。
    </div>
    <div class="example-en">This painting can’t be said to be either beautiful or ugly.</div>
    <div class="example-foot">
      <span class="example-tag"><ruby>批評<rp>(</rp><rt>ひひょう</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby></span>
    </div>
  </div>
  <div class="example">
    <div class="example-jp">
      <ruby>彼<rp>(</rp><rt>かれ</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby>の<ruby class="furi"><rb><ruby>発言<rp>(</rp><rt>はつげん</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby></rb><rt>はつげん</rt></ruby>は<ruby class="furi"><rb><ruby>賛成<rp>(</rp><rt>さんせい</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby></rb><rt>さんせい</rt></ruby>とも<ruby class="furi"><rb><ruby>反対<rp>(</rp><rt>はんたい</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby></rb><rt>はんたい</rt></ruby>とも<ruby class="furi"><rb><ruby>判断<rp>(</rp><rt>はんだん</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby></rb><rt>はんだん</rt></ruby>できない。
    </div>
    <div class="example-en">I can’t judge whether I agree or disagree with his statement.</div>
    <div class="example-foot">
      <span class="example-tag"><ruby>議論<rp>(</rp><rt>ぎろん</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby></span>
    </div>
  </div>
  <div class="example">
    <div class="example-jp">
      <ruby class="furi"><rb><ruby>良<rp>(</rp><rt>りょう</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby></rb><rt>よ</rt></ruby>いとも<ruby class="furi"><rb><ruby>悪<rp>(</rp><rt>わる</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby></rb><rt>わる</rt></ruby>いとも<ruby class="furi"><rb><ruby>言<rp>(</rp><rt>げん</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby></rb><rt>い</rt></ruby>い<ruby class="furi"><rb><ruby>切<rp>(</rp><rt>せつ</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby></rb><rt>き</rt></ruby>れない。
    </div>
    <div class="example-en">I can’t say outright whether it’s good or bad.</div>
    <div class="example-foot">
      <span class="example-tag"><ruby>個人<rp>(</rp><rt>こじん</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby>の<ruby>感想<rp>(</rp><rt>かんそう</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby></span>
    </div>
  </div>
</div>

After each sentence, notice how とも～とも names two extremes and then suspends judgment. That suspended stance is the heart of the pattern.

## Nuance of とも～とも

The key nuance is **forced balance**. This pattern isn’t just “I don’t know” — it’s “I’ve considered both possibilities and neither wins.” It implies the speaker has weighed the two sides equally and found the situation too complex to reduce to one label.

<div class="note-callout">
  <div class="note-icon">💡</div>
  <div class="note-body">
    Using <strong>とも～とも</strong> gives your Japanese a mature, measured sound. It’s often the mark of a writer or speaker who refuses to oversimplify.
  </div>
</div>

Compared with a simple negative like わからない, とも～とも communicates that you actively tried to decide — and found the evidence evenly split. That effort makes the conclusion feel thoughtful, not vague.

## とも～とも vs かどうか

Both **とも～とも** and **かどうか** deal with uncertainty, but they function differently.

<div class="compare">
  <div class="cmp a">
    <div class="cmp-head">とも～とも</div>
    <div class="cmp-sub">Lists two specific opposing terms; the negative verb denies the ability to pick one.</div>
    <div class="cmp-when">Used when the alternatives are equally plausible and the speaker is deliberately noncommittal.</div>
    <div class="cmp-eg"><ruby>高い<rp>(</rp><rt>たかい</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby>とも<ruby>安い<rp>(</rp><rt>やすい</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby>とも<ruby>言え<rp>(</rp><rt>いえ</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby>ない</div>
    <div class="cmp-eg-en">I can’t say it’s either expensive or cheap — it’s somewhere in between.</div>
  </div>
  <div class="vs">vs</div>
  <div class="cmp b">
    <div class="cmp-head">かどうか</div>
    <div class="cmp-sub">Asks about a single state; the “or not” is implied, not specified.</div>
    <div class="cmp-when">Used when you simply lack information about a fact.</div>
    <div class="cmp-eg"><ruby>高い<rp>(</rp><rt>たかい</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby>かどうかわからない</div>
    <div class="cmp-eg-en">I don’t know whether it’s expensive (or not).</div>
  </div>
</div>

If you replace <ruby>高い<rp>(</rp><rt>たかい</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby>とも<ruby>安い<rp>(</rp><rt>やすい</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby>とも<ruby>言え<rp>(</rp><rt>いえ</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby>ない with <ruby>高い<rp>(</rp><rt>たかい</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby>かどうかわからない, you lose the sense that both extremes have been considered equally. The former suggests a nuanced judgment; the latter just notes ignorance.

## Common mistakes with とも～とも

<div class="mistakes">
  <div class="mistake">
    <div class="mline bad">
      <span class="mark bad">❌</span>
      <div class="mline-body">その<ruby>案<rp>(</rp><rt>あん</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby>は<ruby>良い<rp>(</rp><rt>よい</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby>とも<ruby>悪い<rp>(</rp><rt>わるい</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby>ともだ。</div>
    </div>
    <div class="mline good">
      <span class="mark good">✅</span>
      <div class="mline-body">その<ruby>案<rp>(</rp><rt>あん</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby>は<ruby>良い<rp>(</rp><rt>よい</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby>とも<ruby>悪い<rp>(</rp><rt>わるい</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby>とも<ruby>言え<rp>(</rp><rt>いえ</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby>ない。</div>
    </div>
    <div class="note">とも～とも cannot end a sentence without a negative judgment verb.</div>
  </div>
  <div class="mistake">
    <div class="mline bad">
      <span class="mark bad">❌</span>
      <div class="mline-body">この<ruby>料理<rp>(</rp><rt>りょうり</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby>は<ruby>美味しい<rp>(</rp><rt>おいしい</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby>ともまずいとも<ruby>食べ<rp>(</rp><rt>たべ</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby>られる。</div>
    </div>
    <div class="mline good">
      <span class="mark good">✅</span>
      <div class="mline-body">この<ruby>料理<rp>(</rp><rt>りょうり</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby>は<ruby>美味しい<rp>(</rp><rt>おいしい</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby>ともまずいとも<ruby>言え<rp>(</rp><rt>いえ</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby>ない。</div>
    </div>
    <div class="note">The following verb must express an inability to decide, not a positive action.</div>
  </div>
  <div class="mistake">
    <div class="mline bad">
      <span class="mark bad">❌</span>
      <div class="mline-body"><ruby>彼<rp>(</rp><rt>かれ</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby>は<ruby>賛成<rp>(</rp><rt>さんせい</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby>とも<ruby>言わ<rp>(</rp><rt>いわ</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby>なかった。</div>
    </div>
    <div class="mline good">
      <span class="mark good">✅</span>
      <div class="mline-body"><ruby>彼<rp>(</rp><rt>かれ</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby>は<ruby>賛成<rp>(</rp><rt>さんせい</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby>とも<ruby>反対<rp>(</rp><rt>はんたい</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby>とも<ruby>言わ<rp>(</rp><rt>いわ</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby>なかった。</div>
    </div>
    <div class="note">You must pair とも twice with opposing terms; using only one is incomplete.</div>
  </div>
</div>

A good self-check: write a sentence, then read it without the two とも items. If the remaining negative verb no longer makes sense (“…<ruby>言え<rp>(</rp><rt>いえ</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby>ない” about what?), you’ve left out a necessary contrast.

## Is とも～とも on the JLPT?

<div class="jlpt-card">
  <div class="jlpt-shield">N1</div>
  <div class="jlpt-info">
    <strong>Yes.</strong> とも～とも is squarely in the N1 grammar set.
  </div>
  <div class="jlpt-checks">
    At test time, you’ll be expected to:
    <ul>
      <li>recognize the pattern in dense passages with multiple viewpoints</li>
      <li>choose the correct negative ending (<ruby>言え<rp>(</rp><rt>いえ</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby>ない, <ruby>判断<rp>(</rp><rt>はんだん</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby>できない, わからない)</li>
      <li>distinguish it from similar structures like と<ruby>否<rp>(</rp><rt>いな</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby>と, や<ruby>否<rp>(</rp><rt>いな</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby>や, or かどうか</li>
    </ul>
    In the reading section, sentences with とも～とも often signal the author’s refusal to take sides, a critical clue for understanding the argument’s balance.
  </div>
</div>

## Practice questions for とも～とも

<div class="prompts">
  <div class="prompt">
    <span class="prompt-num">1</span>
    <div class="prompt-text">Write a sentence using とも～とも to describe a movie you felt was neither great nor terrible.</div>
    <span class="prompt-tag"><ruby>感想<rp>(</rp><rt>かんそう</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby></span>
  </div>
  <div class="prompt">
    <span class="prompt-num">2</span>
    <div class="prompt-text">Take a simple かどうか sentence (e.g., <ruby>正しい<rp>(</rp><rt>ただしい</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby>かどうかわからない) and rewrite it with two opposing とも items.</div>
    <span class="prompt-tag"><ruby>変換<rp>(</rp><rt>へんかん</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby></span>
  </div>
  <div class="prompt">
    <span class="prompt-num">3</span>
    <div class="prompt-text">Create a review for a restaurant using とも～とも<ruby>言え<rp>(</rp><rt>いえ</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby>ない and explain why you can’t commit to a clear opinion.</div>
    <span class="prompt-tag"><ruby>応用<rp>(</rp><rt>おうよう</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby></span>
  </div>
  <div class="prompt">
    <span class="prompt-num">4</span>
    <div class="prompt-text">Find a news article in Japanese that presents two sides of an issue. Summarize the author’s stance using とも～とも.</div>
    <span class="prompt-tag"><ruby>読解<rp>(</rp><rt>どっかい</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby></span>
  </div>
</div>

## Learning path for とも～とも

<div class="path">
  <div class="path-step">
    <span class="step-num">1</span>
    <div class="step-body">
      <strong>Formation drill.</strong> Make five quick combos with common adjective opposites (<ruby>高い<rp>(</rp><rt>たかい</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby>/<ruby>安い<rp>(</rp><rt>やすい</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby>、<ruby>良い<rp>(</rp><rt>よい</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby>/<ruby>悪い<rp>(</rp><rt>わるい</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby>、<ruby>難しい<rp>(</rp><rt>むずかしい</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby>/<ruby>易しい<rp>(</rp><rt>やさしい</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby>、<ruby>明るい<rp>(</rp><rt>あかるい</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby>/<ruby>暗い<rp>(</rp><rt>くらい</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby>、<ruby>速い<rp>(</rp><rt>はやい</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby>/<ruby>遅い<rp>(</rp><rt>おそい</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby>). Attach とも and <ruby>言え<rp>(</rp><rt>いえ</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby>ない each time until it feels automatic.
    </div>
  </div>
  <div class="path-step">
    <span class="step-num">2</span>
    <div class="step-body">
      <strong>Contrast with かどうか.</strong> Write two sentences about the same topic: one with とも～とも, one with かどうか. Feel how the first sounds analytical while the second sounds information-seeking. Keep both.
    </div>
  </div>
  <div class="path-step">
    <span class="step-num">3</span>
    <div class="step-body">
      <strong>Add context.</strong> Embed とも～とも in a full paragraph. Start with a situation (e.g., a debate about a new law), then use the pattern to show your suspended judgment, and finish with a reason why you can’t decide.
    </div>
  </div>
  <div class="path-step">
    <span class="step-num">4</span>
    <div class="step-body">
      <strong>Read N1-level editorials.</strong> Find an opinion piece where the author uses とも～とも. Underline the two contrasted terms and the negative verb. Notice how often they appear together to frame a balanced analysis.
    </div>
  </div>
  <div class="path-step">
    <span class="step-num">5</span>
    <div class="step-body">
      <strong>Review with related grammar.</strong> The “Related grammar” list below pairs well. As you study, compare the nuance of とも～とも with ともなく～ともなしに or ともすると, noticing how each pattern uses とも for a unique effect.
    </div>
  </div>
</div>

## Related grammar to review next

- [ともあろうものが](/blog/n1-tomo-arou-mono-ga/) — shares the とも segment and expresses “of all people/things,” a high-N1 evaluative expression
- [ともなく～ともなしに](/blog/n1-tomo-naku-tomo-nashi-ni/) — uses double とも to describe aimless or unintentional actions, a close structural cousin
- [ともすれば](/blog/n1-tomo-sureba/) — another とも pattern that means “apt to; liable to,” offering a different nuance of tendency
- [とりわけ](/blog/n1-toriwake/) — while not a とも pattern, とりわけ is another N1 adverb for “especially,” useful in the same analytical registers

## Learn とも～とも with Hane

If you want to review **とも～とも** together with the related patterns above, Hane helps you practice Japanese in short, focused sessions.

Browse more lessons here:
- [All grammar lessons](/blog/)
- [JLPT N1 grammar lessons](/blog/n1/)