N2 Intention and Determination

~てでも: meaning, usage and examples

~てでも means: even if it means... / even by...

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

Examples

1. 無理むりをしてでも、締しめ切きりに間まに合あわせる。

   Even if it means overworking, I'll meet the deadline.

2. 徹夜てつやしてでも、完成かんせいさせたい。

   I want to complete it even if it means staying up all night.

3. どんな手てを使つかってでも、この契約けいやくを取とってみせる。

   I will land this contract, whatever it takes.

4. 仕事しごとを休やすんででも、その講演こうえん会かいには行いきたい。

   I want to go to that lecture even if it means taking time off work.

When to use it

Expresses strong determination: the speaker will reach a goal even by an extreme or costly method. For example, 徹夜てつやしてでも完成かんせいさせる means "I'll finish it even if I have to stay up all night." The second clause is usually a wish, intention or strong statement, like たい, つもりだ or みせる.

Nuance

Neutral register; used in speech and writing. It shows determination, so the second clause is usually about the future or a wish, not a past fact. It also appears in requests to others: 休やすんででも病院びょういんに行いってください.

Compare

てまで often describes or judges something already done, sometimes critically: 借金しゃっきんまでして買かった. てでも looks forward with resolve: 借金しゃっきんをしてでも買かいたい. ても simply means "even if," with no sense of choosing a costly method: 雨あめが降ふっても行いく.

Tip: Read てでも as "even if it takes...". Put the hard method first and the goal second.