Even if: たとえ〜ても

たとえ announces a strong concession right from the start of the sentence: “even if, even supposing”. It's always followed by 〜ても (or でも after a noun or a な-adjective). What follows states that the decision or the result won't change.

• たとえ雨が降っても、祭りは行われます。たとえあめがふっても、まつりはおこなわれます。Even if it rains, the festival will go ahead.
• たとえ親に反対されても、この道に進みたい。たとえおやにはんたいされても、このみちにすすみたい。Even if my parents are against it, I want to follow this path.
• たとえ子どもでも、ルールは守らなければならない。たとえこどもでも、るーるはまもらなければならない。Even children have to follow the rules.

〜ても (N4) is already enough to say “even if”. たとえ, placed at the start, warns the listener from the very first word that a concession is coming, and makes it stronger, more solemn: “even supposing…”, English “even if” with extra weight.

The sentence often expresses determination (“I'll go anyway”) or a rule with no exceptions.

• たとえ時間がかかっても、自分の力でやりたい。たとえじかんがかかっても、じぶんのちからでやりたい。Even if it takes time, I want to do it on my own.

たとえ doesn't change the form: it's the ても-form that carries the concession. たとえ on its own, without ても, is incorrect.

• たとえ不便でも、静かな町に住みたい。たとえふべんでも、しずかなまちにすみたい。Even if it's inconvenient, I want to live in a quiet town.
• たとえ社長でも、間違いは間違いだ。たとえしゃちょうでも、まちがいはまちがいだ。Even coming from the company president, a mistake is a mistake.

〜ても on its own is neutral and very common. たとえ〜ても reinforces it and makes the tone more determined, more written. 〜としても (“even supposing that”) stresses the hypothetical nature: たとえ〜としても is also possible, for an even more remote hypothesis.

Watch out for たとえば (“for example”): one kana's difference, no connection in meaning.

• たとえ合格したとしても、すぐには行けない。たとえごうかくしたとしても、すぐにはいけない。Even supposing I passed, I couldn't go straight away.
• たとえば、お茶やお菓子が京都のお土産にいい。たとえば、おちゃやおかしがきょうとのおみやげにいい。For example, tea or sweets make good souvenirs from Kyoto.