ようと～まいと / ようが～まいが means whether or not; regardless. It is a JLPT N1 Japanese grammar pattern used to express that something holds true no matter whether an action is taken or not — a statement of firm determination or inevitable fact.
This grammar point appears most often in formal or emphatic statements, but you’ll spot it in spoken Japanese too when someone wants to drive a point home. If you need to say “regardless of whether X happens, Y will happen,” this is the pattern that delivers that weight.
What does ようと～まいと / ようが～まいが mean?
Use ようと～まいと / ようが～まいが when you want to express that an outcome will stay the same regardless of whether a certain action is performed or not — in other words, “whether or not X, Y stands.”
Natural translations include:
- whether or not
- regardless of whether … or not
- no matter if … or not
The best translation depends on the sentence. Try to notice the writer’s or speaker’s purpose first — are they stating a fact, making a resolution, or dismissing a possibility? — then choose the English phrase that fits that context.
How to form ようと～まいと / ようが～まいが
The pattern uses the volitional form (意向形) of a verb followed by と or が, then the same verb in dictionary form plus まい, and finally another と or が. It always sandwiches a single verb, once in its “let’s do” shape and once with the negative-volitional helper まい.
Conjugation for まい:
- 五段 verbs (Group I): attach まい directly to the dictionary form — 書く → 書くまい, 読む → 読むまい
- 一段 verbs (Group II): attach まい to the stem (or, more naturally, to the dictionary form) — 食べる → 食べまい (or 食べるまい, both acceptable; 食べまい is more classical but still used)
- する → するまい / しまい (しまい is contraction of するまい, common)
- くる → こまい (or くるまい, both exist; こまい is standard)
Examples of the full pattern:
- 行こうと行くまいと
- 見ようが見まいが
- 勉強しようと勉強するまいと
- 来ようが来まいが
The choice between と and が does not change the meaning; が can feel slightly more emphatic or formal, but both are widely used.
When is ようと～まいと / ようが～まいが used?
Use ようと～まいと / ようが～まいが in situations like:
- stating a firm resolution: “I’ll do it whether you help or not.”
- expressing that an external fact is unavoidable: “The deadline won’t change no matter if you complain.”
- dismissing someone else’s action as irrelevant: “Whether he apologizes or not, I’m done.”
Tone and register:
- somewhat formal to strongly emphatic; まい itself is a bit literary, so the whole pattern gravitates toward written Japanese, speeches, or sharp declarations in conversation.
- When softened with ～ようと～まいと, it can still appear in everyday arguments or manga dialogue.
ようと～まいと / ようが～まいが example sentences
彼が来ようと来まいと、会議は始める。
Whether he comes or not, we'll start the meeting.
雨が降ろうと降るまいと、試合は決行だ。
Rain or shine, the match will go on.
あなたが認めようと認めまいと、事実は変わらない。
Whether you acknowledge it or not, the fact doesn't change.
勉強しようとしまいと、試験は明日だ。
Whether you study or not, the exam is tomorrow.
誰が賛成しようとしまいと、私は進める。
Whether anyone agrees or not, I'm pushing forward.
謝ろうが謝るまいが、許す気はない。
Whether he apologizes or not, I have no intention of forgiving him.
Nuance of ようと～まいと / ようが～まいが
The key nuance is the speaker places the action’s execution in a box labeled “irrelevant” – the result is already fixed. This isn’t a simple conditional; it’s a rhetorical dismissal of the action as a factor.
Compared to common “even if” patterns, ようと～まいと / ようが～まいが feels heavier and more final. It often carries a hint of stubbornness, resignation, or moral certainty. When you use it, you’re not just saying “if A or not-A, B” – you’re saying “I don’t care about A; B is what matters.”
This emotional charge is why you’ll hear it in arguments, in dramatic fiction, and in formal decisions announced by a committee. It’s less about probability and more about asserting the irrelevance of a choice.
ようと～まいと / ようが～まいが vs ようが～ようが
Both ようと～まいと / ようが～まいが and ようが～ようが (also ようと～ようと) deal with alternatives, but they serve different logical structures.
The key difference: ようと～まいと compares doing versus not‑doing the same verb, while ようが～ようが compares two different verbs (or actions). In many cases, you can’t swap them without changing the meaning.
If you encounter a sentence and aren’t sure which pattern is correct, check how many actions are on stage — one or two? That’s your first clue.
Common mistakes with ようと～まいと / ようが～まいが
The most common slip is replacing まい with ない or a negative-て form — those are completely different grammar points. Remember that まい is the negative‑volitional auxiliary, not a generic negation, and it must follow the dictionary form (or the appropriate stem for 一段 verbs).
Is ようと～まいと / ようが～まいが on the JLPT?
At the N1 level you should be able to:
- recognise the pattern in reading comprehension passages
- distinguish it from similar constructions (ようが～ようが, ～にかかわらず, etc.)
- understand the speaker’s stance — determination, indifference, or inevitability
In JLPT N1 questions, this pattern often appears in the grammar section where you choose the correct particle (と or が) or fill in the blank with the properly conjugated verb form. Reading sections may use it to signal a character’s unwavering attitude.
Practice questions for ようと～まいと / ようが～まいが
Learning path for ようと～まいと / ようが～まいが
Related grammar to review next
- ようが～ようが / ようと～ようと — because it also lists alternatives, but with two different verbs instead of one action’s positive/negative pair
- ようが～ようと — a shorter variant of the above; same contrast, less repetitive rhythm
- ようによっては～ようでは — because it also uses よう to express a conditional outcome, though through a different logical angle (depending on how you do it)
- ようにも～ない — because it shares the volitional よう but builds a “no way to do” meaning, which contrasts nicely with the “whether or not” structure
Learn ようと～まいと / ようが～まいが with Hane
If you want to review ようと～まいと / ようが～まいが alongside the related patterns above, Hane helps you practise Japanese in short, focused sessions — so you can internalise these subtle N1 distinctions.
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FAQ about ようと～まいと / ようが～まいが
What does ようと～まいと / ようが～まいが mean in Japanese?
ようと～まいと / ようが～まいが means “whether or not; regardless” in Japanese. It is an N1 grammar point, and this lesson explains its formation, nuance, example sentences, common mistakes, and similar grammar.
Is ようと～まいと / ようが～まいが on the JLPT?
ようと～まいと / ようが～まいが is taught as N1 Japanese grammar in Hane's grammar lesson archive. Review it with examples, usage notes, and related N1 patterns.
How should I practice ようと～まいと / ようが～まいが?
Read several example sentences, identify the form before and after ようと～まいと / ようが～まいが, then make your own short sentences and compare it with nearby grammar points.