JLPT N1 Regardless, whether, and no matter what
であれ～であれ and ようが～ようが list cases that do not change the outcome, and ようと～まいと means "whether or not". いかんにかかわらず and によらず are formal "regardless of", while たところで says an effort will be pointless. たところで looks like the N3 "just finished" pattern, but here it always leads to a negative or futile result.
14 N1 grammar points in this group
いずれにしても (izure ni shite mo): in any case
Use いずれにしても when you want to say that the same conclusion applies no matter which possibility is true.
いずれにしても、早めに連絡したほうがいい。 — In any case, you should contact them early.
いずれにしても / いずれにしろ / いずれにせよ (izure ni shitemo / izure ni shiro / izure ni seyo): anyhow; anyway; either way; in any case
Use いずれにしても / いずれにしろ / いずれにせよ when you want to say that a particular conclusion or situation does not change, regardless of which alternative you consider. The three forms are interchangeable; いずれにせよ is slightly more literary, while いずれにしろ is more colloquial, and いずれにしても sits in the middle.
賛成か反対か、いずれにしても決定しなければならない。 — Whether you agree or disagree, we have to decide either way.
いかなる (ikanaru): any kind of; every; whatsoever; whatever
Use いかなる when you need a formal, emphatic determiner that means “any kind of” or “no matter what kind.” It attaches directly before a noun and asserts that what follows is true for all possible varieties or scenarios — often with a negative predicate or the inclusive particle も.
いかなる場合でも、規則は守るべきだ。 — You should follow the rules in any situation whatsoever.
によらず (ni yorazu): regardless of
Use によらず when you want to say that something is valid, happens, or should be done independently of a specific thing. You are explicitly removing that thing as a deciding factor.
年齢や性別によらず、応募できます。 — You can apply regardless of age or gender.
いかんにかかわらず / いかんによらず / いかんをとわず (ikan ni kakawarazu / ikan ni yorazu / ikan o towazu): regardless of; whether or not; doesn't matter whether
Use いかんにかかわらず, いかんによらず, or いかんをとわず when you want to express that something is not dependent on a particular circumstance — that the result, rule, or action remains the same regardless of that factor.
結果のいかんにかかわらず、全力を尽くします。 — Regardless of the outcome, I will do my best.
であれ / であろうと (de are / de arou to): whoever; whatever; however; even
Use であれ / であろうと when you want to say that something remains true, acceptable, or necessary no matter what the specific condition is. It marks a hypothetical or extreme case and insists that the result does not change.
誰であれ、規則は守らなければならない。 — Whoever you are, you must obey the rules.
であれ～であれ (de are ~ de are): whether [A] or [B]
Use であれ～であれ when you want to state that something is true regardless of which of two conditions holds—both are equally covered.
男性であれ女性であれ、この仕事には同じ資格が必要だ。 — Whether you are male or female, this job requires the same qualifications.
はどうであれ (wa dou de are): however; whatever
Use はどうであれ when you want to say that regardless of how something turns out, the following statement holds.
結果はどうであれ、全力を尽くすつもりだ。 — Whatever the result, I intend to give it my all.
ようが / ようと (you ga / you to): even if; no matter how/what
Use ようが / ようと when you want to declare that the outcome or situation remains unchanged, no matter what action occurs.
雨が降ろうが、行きます。 — Even if it rains, I’ll go.
ようが～ようが / ようと～ようと (you ga ~ you ga / you to ~ you to): no matter; whether; even if [A] or [B]
Use ようが～ようが / ようと～ようと when you want to say that regardless of two extreme possibilities, the outcome, judgement, or resolution is unchanged. The two alternatives are placed in contrast, often covering the entire range of possibilities (for example, success or failure, rich or poor, rain or hail).
雨が降ろうが槍が降ろうが、試合は決行する。 — No matter whether it rains or whether spears fall, we’ll go ahead with the match.
ようと～まいと / ようが～まいが (you to ~ mai to / you ga ~ mai ga): whether or not; regardless
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.
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.
たところで (ta tokoro de): even if; no matter (who, what, when, where, why, how)
Use たところで when you want to say that an action or situation is pointless, or that no matter what is tried, the result will not change.
今更行ったところで、もう遅い。 — Even if we go now, it’s already too late.
にしたところで / としたところで (ni shita tokoro de / to shita tokoro de): even if; even supposing that
Use にしたところで / としたところで when you want to express that even if a particular condition were true, it wouldn’t change the result. It often carries a dismissive or resigned tone — the speaker implies that the proposed scenario is irrelevant or wouldn’t help.
今から走ったとしたところで、間に合わない。 — Even if you run now, you won't make it in time.
ずとも (zu tomo): even without doing; even without being
Use ずとも when you want to state that an outcome stands even without a certain action. It says, “You don’t need to do X; the result holds regardless.
わざわざ行かずとも、電話で十分だ。 — You don’t need to go all the way; a phone call is enough.
More JLPT N1 grammar groups
- Conditionals, warnings, and depending on (14)
- Although, despite, and against expectation (18)
- Cause, reason, and pretext (14)
- Purpose, intention, and doing two things (15)
- Time: as soon as, turning points, since (23)
- Should, must not, and worth doing (20)
- Strong feelings, extremes, and endings (23)
- Conjecture, likelihood, and judgment (21)
- Cannot, without, and bad outcomes (18)
- Emphasis, limits, and comparison (27)
- Listing examples and alternatives (14)
- Formal relational phrases (13)
- Appearance, tendency, and suffixes (20)