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〜てでも

even if it means (doing)

Verb て-form + でも

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てでも expresses strong determination: the speaker is willing to do something drastic to achieve a goal. 借金をしてでも、この家を買いたい, "I want to buy this house, even if it means borrowing money".

The first half is a sacrifice or an extreme measure (borrowing, staying up all night, taking time off, queuing). The second is the goal: たい, つもりだ, or a firm statement.

It's the て-form plus でも. With verbs whose て-form ends in で, it becomes ででも: 休んででも, 並んででも.

Compare ても ("even if"), which is neutral. てでも says "I'm prepared to go that far". 何をしてでも means "whatever it takes".

Examples

  • 借金しゃっきんをしてでも、この家いえを買かいたい。

    I want to buy this house, even if it means borrowing money.

  • 徹夜てつやしてでも、明日あしたまでに終おわらせる。

    I'll finish it by tomorrow, even if I have to stay up all night.

  • 何なにをしてでも、夢ゆめをかなえたい。

    I want to make my dream come true, whatever it takes.

  • 仕事しごとを休やすんででも、子こどもの試合しあいを見みに行いく。

    I'll go and watch my child's match, even if it means taking time off work.

  • 並ならんででも、あの店みせのラーメンが食たべたい。

    I want to eat that shop's ramen, even if I have to queue.

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