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Formation: N / な-adj stem + であれ／であろうと／であろうが; question word (何／誰／どこ) + であれ; N1 であれ N2 であれ

であれ and であろうと say that the main clause holds no matter what X is: "whatever the reason", "whether adult or child", "however difficult". It is formal and mostly written. It often follows a question word (何であれ, 誰であれ), sits in a paired list (A であれ B であれ), or comes after たとえ. The main clause usually expresses a judgment, rule, obligation or resolve that stays unchanged. Grammatically it is the copula version of 〜（よ）うが／（よ）うと, which attaches to verbs and adjectives. 〜にしろ／にせよ means much the same but sounds a little less stiff, and 〜を問わず simply means "regardless of" without the concessive feel.

Variants: であろうと、であろうが、〜であれ〜であれ、たとえ〜であれ

Examples

• 理由が何であれ、暴力は許されない。
  Whatever the reason, violence is unacceptable.
• 大人であれ子どもであれ、ルールは守るべきだ。
  Adult or child, everyone should follow the rules.
• たとえ困難であろうと、計画を変えるつもりはない。
  However difficult it may be, I have no intention of changing the plan.

In real texts 0 occurrence(s)

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