Whether… or: 〜にしろ〜にしろ・〜にせよ
N / plain form + にしろ（にせよ）+ N / plain form + にしろ（にせよ） ; on its own: 〜にしろ／〜にせよ ; いずれにせよ
X にしろ（にせよ）Y にしろ: “whether X or Y, either way…”. On its own: “even if”; いずれにせよ = “in any case”. にしても (spoken) < にしろ < にせよ (written).
In short
〜にしろ〜にしろ runs through two (or more) cases to say the conclusion is the same in every case: “whether X or Y”. Used only once, it expresses a concession: “even if, granted that”. にせよ is more written, にしろ neutral, にしても more spoken. Fixed phrase: いずれにせよ (“in any case”).
- 行くにしろ行かないにしろ、連絡してください。いくにしろいかないにしろ、れんらくしてください。Whether you go or not, let me know.
- 肉にしろ魚にしろ、新鮮な物を選ぶことが大切だ。にくにしろさかなにしろ、しんせんなものをえらぶことがたいせつだ。Whether it's meat or fish, the important thing is to choose fresh produce.
- いずれにせよ、明日までに結論を出さなければならない。いずれにせよ、あしたまでにけつろんをださなければならない。In any case, we have to reach a decision by tomorrow.
The basics
しろ and せよ are two imperatives of する. Frozen in にしろ／にせよ, they've taken on the meaning “let's say it's X”. By repeating the construction, you sweep through every possible case: “say it's X, say it's Y… either way, the conclusion doesn't change”.
The conclusion is often a request, advice or an obligation: “either way, let me know”.
Whether you go or not, let me know.
- grammatical form
- verb
- 勝つにしろ負けるにしろ、最後まで全力でやろう。かつにしろまけるにしろ、さいごまでぜんりょくでやろう。Win or lose, let's give it everything to the end.
How to form it
The construction follows a noun or a plain form (a noun or a な-adjective without だ, or with である in writing). The two cases are either opposites (行く／行かない, 好き／嫌い), or two members of the same category (肉／魚, 電車／バス). Used once, it concedes a point: “even if it's X”.
| Use | Example | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Opposite pair | 行くにしろ行かないにしろ | whether you go or not |
| Same category | 電車にせよバスにせよ | train or bus |
| On its own (concession) | 冗談にせよ | even as a joke |
| Set phrase | いずれにせよ／いずれにしても | in any case |
- 好きにしろ嫌いにしろ、この仕事は続けるしかない。すきにしろきらいにしろ、このしごとはつづけるしかない。Whether I like it or not, I have no choice but to keep doing this job.
- 理由が何であるにせよ、遅刻は遅刻だ。りゆうがなんであるにせよ、ちこくはちこくだ。Whatever the reason, late is late.
にしても, にしろ, にせよ: three registers
The meaning is the same; the tone changes. にしても is the most common in speech. にしろ is neutral, a little firm. にせよ belongs to writing and speeches. Keep the same construction in both halves: 行くにしろ行かないにしろ, not a mixture.
| Construction | Register | Example |
|---|---|---|
| にしても〜にしても | spoken, conversation | 行くにしても行かないにしても |
| にしろ〜にしろ | neutral | 行くにしろ行かないにしろ |
| にせよ〜にせよ | written, speeches | 行くにせよ行かないにせよ |
- 行くにしても行かないにしても、早く決めてね。いくにしてもいかないにしても、はやくきめてね。Whether you go or not, make up your mind quickly. (spoken)
- いずれにせよ、詳しい調査が必要である。いずれにせよ、くわしいちょうさがひつようである。In any case, a thorough investigation is necessary. (written)
Compare: を問わず, にかかわらず
を問わず (N2) follows a single noun that already contains variation (年齢, 男女, 経験の有無); it's the style of announcements. にかかわらず (N2) is close, with 〜か〜ないか or a variable noun, in regulations. にしろ〜にしろ names each case explicitly, often with verbs, and lends itself well to personal advice or a request.
- 経験の有無を問わず、だれでも応募できます。けいけんのうむをとわず、だれでもおうぼできます。With or without experience, anyone can apply.
Common mistakes
- Reading しろ／せよ as an order (“do it!”): in this frozen construction, they mean “let's say”.
- Breaking the symmetry: repeat the same construction with elements of the same kind (行くにしろ行かないにしろ, 肉にしろ魚にしろ).
- Using it when the conclusion depends on the case: the whole point is that the outcome is the same either way.
7 exercises on this point
Particles to choose, sentences to put back in order, translations: marked straight away, then reviewed at the right time. This JLPT N2 point is on the Meitetsu Nagoya Line (Industry) of the Nagoya lines.