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〜とて

even (X), X too

Noun + とて

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とて after a noun is a literary "even X, X too": 私とて、この結果には納得していない, "even I'm not satisfied with this result".

It usually follows a person (私, 誰, 先生, 親) or a time (今). It points out that X is no exception to something obvious: 先生とて人間だ, "teachers are human too".

The everyday equivalent is だって or でも. It's close to といえども, which is more formal and concessive. とて is a little softer and appears in speeches, novels and sympathetic arguments.

With a negative, 誰とて〜ない means "no one at all". Don't confuse it with として, "as (a role)".

Examples

  • 私わたしとて、この結果けっかには納得なっとくしていない。

    Even I'm not satisfied with this result.

  • 誰だれとて、死しぬのは怖こわい。

    Everyone is afraid of dying.

  • 先生せんせいとて人間にんげんだ。間違まちがえることもある。

    Teachers are human too. They make mistakes.

  • 今いまとて、その気持きもちは変かわらない。

    Even now, that feeling hasn't changed.

  • 親おやとて、子こどもの気持きもちがすべて分わかるわけではない。

    Even parents don't understand everything their children feel.

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