JLPT N1 grammar
〜であれ〜であれ — Meaning & Examples
"Whether A or B" — two alternatives, both irrelevant to the rule. 男であれ女であれ、平等だ. Single であれ alone = "even being X."
〜であれ〜であれ — "Whether A or B"
であれ〜であれ presents two (or more) alternatives as equally irrelevant to the outcome — commonly used for fairness and universality.
Pattern: [noun] + であれ + [noun] + であれ
男であれ女であれ、平等に扱われるべきだ。
= Whether male or female, one should be treated equally.
晴れであれ雨であれ、遠足は行われる。
= Whether it's sunny or rainy, the excursion will happen.
社長であれ新入社員であれ、ルールは同じだ。
= Whether it's the president or a new employee, the rules are the same.
Single であれ also works alone — "even being X":
子供であれ、ルールは守るべきだ。
= Even being a child, one should follow the rules.
Key feeling: A judge's even-handedness — the category doesn't matter; the principle applies universally.
Practice questions
Try these 2 questions on 〜であれ〜であれ. Pick an answer in your head, then open “Show answer”.
1. 「男であれ女であれ、平等に扱われるべきだ。」 means?
- Only men should be treated equally
- Men and women are treated differently
- Whether male or female, one should be treated equally
- Gender determines treatment
Show answer
Answer: Whether male or female, one should be treated equally
であれ〜であれ = whether A or B — presents two alternatives as equally irrelevant to the rule of fair treatment.
2. What is the key difference between であれ〜であれ and にせよ／にしろ?
- They are identical in all uses
- であれ〜であれ cannot be used with nouns
- にせよ／にしろ is only used in questions
- であれ〜であれ presents two neutral options; にせよ／にしろ concedes a point then insists on a conclusion
Show answer
Answer: であれ〜であれ presents two neutral options; にせよ／にしろ concedes a point then insists on a conclusion
であれ〜であれ = fairness across two neutral alternatives; にせよ／にしろ = concession followed by an insisted conclusion.
Practise 〜であれ〜であれ in the free app
This point is part of the “"No Matter What" — (よ)うが／うと・うが〜まいが・であれ〜であれ・にせよ／にしろ” lesson in A Star Japanese. Study it with examples, a quiz, flashcards and timed JLPT N1 mock exams. Free on iPhone and Android.
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Related N1 grammar points
From the same lesson: "No Matter What" — (よ)うが／うと・うが〜まいが・であれ〜であれ・にせよ／にしろ
Frequently asked questions
What does 〜であれ〜であれ mean?
"Whether A or B" — two alternatives, both irrelevant to the rule. 男であれ女であれ、平等だ. Single であれ alone = "even being X."
Is 〜であれ〜であれ on the JLPT N1 test?
〜であれ〜であれ is taught in the JLPT N1 grammar course in A Star Japanese (lesson “"No Matter What" — (よ)うが／うと・うが〜まいが・であれ〜であれ・にせよ／にしろ”), so it is a pattern learners at this level are expected to recognise. The JLPT does not publish an official grammar list, so treat this as a study guide rather than an official requirement.
How can I practise 〜であれ〜であれ?
Open the “"No Matter What" — (よ)うが／うと・うが〜まいが・であれ〜であれ・にせよ／にしろ” lesson in the free A Star Japanese app for iPhone and Android. It has examples, a quiz after every lesson, flashcards with spaced repetition and timed JLPT N1 mock exams, with no ads.