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Formation: V / i-adj plain form + にしろ / にせよ; N / na-adj stem (+ である) + にしろ / にせよ; A にしろ B にしろ; question word + にしろ / にせよ

〜にしろ／にせよ has two main uses. With one item it is concessive: 'even if (granting) X, still Y', and the main clause is often a judgment, criticism or obligation. With two contrasting items (AにしろBにしろ) or a question word (何にせよ, いずれにせよ) it means 'whichever it is, Y holds'. にせよ is the more formal, written form, にしろ is slightly more conversational, and the meaning is the same. It is almost identical to 〜にしても, which is the most colloquial of the three. Compared with 〜としても, which sets up a pure hypothesis, にしろ often concedes something that is or may well be true. 〜であれ is a more formal relative used mainly with nouns.

Variants: にせよ、いずれにせよ、いずれにしろ、何にせよ、AにしろBにしろ

Examples

• 理由は何にせよ、無断欠勤は許されない。
  Whatever the reason, being absent without notice is not acceptable.
• 賛成するにしろ反対するにしろ、まず資料を読んでほしい。
  Whether you're for it or against it, please read the materials first.
• 小さなミスにせよ、上司への報告は欠かせない。
  Even if it's a small mistake, you must report it to your boss.

In real texts 0 occurrence(s)

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