N1 Uncertainty, Hedging, and Inference

~とも〜とも: meaning, usage and examples

~とも〜とも means: can't say whether... or...

Updated 9 November 2026 · By the My Senpai team · Spotted a mistake? Tell us

Examples

1. 彼かれは行いくとも行いかないとも言いわずに帰かえってしまった。

   He went home without saying whether he would go or not.

2. その結果けっかは、良よいとも悪わるいとも言いえない、微妙びみょうなものだった。

   The result was hard to judge; you couldn't call it either good or bad.

3. 鈴木すずきさんは、試合しあいに出でるとも出でないとも言いっていない。

   Ms. Suzuki hasn't said whether she'll play in the game or not.

4. 担当たんとう者しゃは、計画けいかくを続つづけるとも中止ちゅうしするとも明言めいげんしなかった。

   The person in charge did not make clear whether the plan would continue or be canceled.

When to use it

Lists two opposite options to say that neither one is stated or clear: "doesn't say whether A or B," "can't tell if A or B." Common pairs: 行いくとも行いかないとも, 良よいとも悪わるいとも. Example: 「彼かれは賛成さんせいとも反対はんたいとも言いわなかった」. It is common when reporting that someone gave no clear answer.

Nuance

Neutral, slightly formal. The verb that follows is almost always negative or about not saying: 言いわない, 言いえない, 答こたえない, 決きまらない. It often hints that someone is being evasive or that the situation is hard to judge.

Compare

かどうか is the plain way to ask whether: 行いくかどうかわからない. とも〜とも presents both options explicitly and stresses the lack of an answer: 行いくとも行いかないとも言いわない. 〜とも〜ともつかない (neither A nor B) describes something in between: 笑わらいとも泣なきともつかない声こえ.

Tip: Pair two opposites, then a negative verb of saying. If the sentence ends in a positive verb, it is not this pattern.