Examples & Pairs — といい〜といい/といわず〜といわず/なり〜なり/であれ〜であれ/だの〜だの/（よ）うが〜まいが
This lesson covers paired "A… B…" patterns used for giving examples and listing. 「といい〜といい」 names two aspects and leads into the speaker's verdict on the whole; 「といわず〜といわず」 makes no distinction between A and B — "all of it, everywhere, all the time"; 「なり〜なり」 offers two possible courses of action and is followed by advice or an instruction; 「であれ〜であれ」 means the main clause holds whether it's A or B; 「だの〜だの」 lists things with irritation, usually someone else's complaints or excuses; and 「（よ）うが〜まいが」 pairs the positive and negative of the same verb to say it makes no difference either way. What separates them is mostly the main clause — a verdict or a fact, a suggestion or a judgment, irritation or none — and that's exactly where the N1 test probes. Note that 「なり〜なり」 here is a different pattern from the "the moment…" 「なり」 in Lesson 76.
Vocabulary
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 日当たり | ひあたり | n sunlight; how much sun a place getsalways a point when renting or buying日当たりがいい gets plenty of sun日当たり良好 sunny (estate-agent phrase) |
| 申し分ない | もうしぶんない | adj perfect; couldn't be betternothing at all to complain about申し分ない出来 flawless work条件は申し分ない the terms are ideal |
| 幹部 | かんぶ | n executives; senior managementthe leading members of a company or organization会社の幹部 company executives幹部候補 a candidate for management |
| 現場 | げんば | n the front line; the sitewhere the actual work is done, also the scene of an accident or crime現場の声 the voice of people on the ground事故現場 the accident scene |
| 浸水 | しんすい | n, suru-verb flooding; being inundated床上浸水 water above floor level浸水被害 flood damage |
| 水浸し | みずびたし | n flooded; soaked部屋が水浸しになる a room gets flooded床が水浸しだ the floor is awash |
| こもる | こもる | v, intrans. to shut oneself away; (of feeling) to be put into something部屋にこもる to shut oneself in one's room心のこもった heartfelt |
| 行列 | ぎょうれつ | n, suru-verb a queue; a line行列ができる a queue forms行列のできる店 a shop people queue for |
| 譲る | ゆずる | v, trans. to give up (to someone); to hand over席を譲る to give up one's seat人に譲る to pass something on to someone |
| 侵害 | しんがい | n, suru-verb infringement; violationusually of rights or interests権利を侵害する to infringe someone's rightsプライバシーの侵害 invasion of privacy |
| いちいち | いちいち | adv every single time; over every little thingusually with irritationいちいち文句を言う to complain about every little thingいちいち確認する to check each one |
| 口を出す | くちをだす | idiom to butt in; to interferegiving unwanted opinions on someone else's business人の仕事に口を出す to meddle in other people's work余計な口を出す to stick one's nose in |
| 荷造り | にづくり | n, suru-verb packingboxing things up before a move or a trip引っ越しの荷造り packing for a move荷造りを済ませる to finish packing |
| 欠かす | かかす | v, trans. to miss; to go withoutmostly in the negative, "never miss"毎朝欠かさず every morning without fail〜に欠かせない indispensable to ~ |
| 決心 | けっしん | n, suru-verb resolve; determination決心がつく to make up one's mind決心が揺らぐ one's resolve wavers |
| 文句 | もんく | n complaint; grumbling文句を言う to complain文句のつけようがない there's nothing to fault |
1. 〜といい〜といい ~to ii ~to ii (Whether it's A or B… / Both A and B…)
Conjugation
- Noun + といい + noun + といい
※ Nouns only. The main clause often has evaluative words like 「どれも」, 「すべて」, 「さすが」, 「申し分ない」 or 「〜すぎる」.
Meaning
"Whether it's A or B…", "A, B — (it's all)…". The speaker picks out two aspects of something as representative and says that's what it's like as a whole. The main clause is the speaker's verdict — praise, or dissatisfaction and exasperation.
Restrictions:
- The main clause must be the speaker's evaluation or judgment, not a plain action or objective report: ❌ 「父といい母といい、昨日旅行に出かけた」 (for a plain report use 「父も母も」).
- A and B are different aspects of one thing (taste and price, colour and shape) or two representatives of one group (the president and the department head).
- No commands or requests in the main clause: ❌ 「色といい形といい、これを買いなさい」.
Example Sentences
- この部屋は、日当たりといい広さといい、申し分ない。(The sunlight, the size — this room couldn't be better.)
- 色といい形といい、このデザインは若い世代に受けそうだ。(With its colour and its shape, this design looks set to go down well with younger people.)
- 社長といい部長といい、この会社の幹部は現場のことがまるで分かっていない。(The president, the department heads — the people running this company have no idea what's happening on the ground.)
- 味といい値段といい、この店が地元の人に長く愛されているのも納得だ。(Given both the taste and the prices, it's no wonder locals have loved this place for so long.)
- 昨日の試合といい今日の試合といい、うちのチームはつまらないミスが多すぎる。(Yesterday's game, today's game — our team makes far too many silly mistakes.)
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2. 〜といわず〜といわず ~to iwazu ~to iwazu (A and B alike / All over…)
Conjugation
- Noun + といわず + noun + といわず
※ Literally "not calling it A, not calling it B" — making no distinction between them.
Meaning
"A and B alike", "all over", "making no distinction between A and B". A and B are parts of a whole, and together they mean "all of it, everywhere, all the time": hands and feet → the whole body, day and night → round the clock, the entrance and the hallway → the whole house. The main clause is an objective description, usually of something bad or startling.
Restrictions:
- A and B are typically body parts, places or times — nouns that add up to a whole.
- The main clause describes a fact, not a verdict: ❌ 「味といわず値段といわず、申し分ない」 (for a verdict use 「といい〜といい」).
- More formal than 「といい〜といい」 and less common in everyday conversation.
Example Sentences
- 子どもたちは泥遊びに夢中で、顔といわず手といわず泥だらけになっていた。(The children were so absorbed in playing in the mud that they were covered in it, faces and hands alike.)
- 彼は昼といわず夜といわず研究室にこもり、実験を続けた。(He shut himself away in the lab day and night and kept on with his experiments.)
- 台風による浸水で、玄関といわず廊下といわず、家じゅうが水浸しになった。(Flooding from the typhoon left the whole house under water — the entrance, the hallway, everywhere.)
- 平日といわず週末といわず、その店の前にはいつも行列ができている。(Weekday or weekend, there's always a queue outside that shop.)
- キャンプ場で、腕といわず首といわず、あちこち蚊に刺されてしまった。(At the campsite I got bitten by mosquitoes all over — arms, neck, everywhere.)
Comparison
| Expression | Meaning | Main clause |
|---|---|---|
| といい〜といい | A, B — (the whole thing is…) | The speaker's verdict (praise or complaint) |
| といわず〜といわず | A and B alike; all over, all the time | An objective fact, usually bad or startling |
| AもBも | both A and B | Neutral, no special tone |
⭕ 色といい形といい、素晴らしいデザインだ。(a verdict)
❌ 色といわず形といわず、素晴らしいデザインだ。
⭕ 顔といわず手といわず、泥だらけだ。(a fact: covered in mud all over)
△ 顔といい手といい、泥だらけじゃないか。(just about possible as an exasperated remark, but to describe the state use 「といわず」)
Rule of thumb: if the main clause is a verdict — good, bad, impressive, too much — pick 「といい」; if it's a state — everywhere, all the time — pick 「といわず」.
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3. 〜なり〜なり ~nari ~nari (Either… or… / Do something, like…)
Conjugation
- Verb dictionary form + なり + verb dictionary form + なり (+ する)
- Noun (+ particle) + なり + noun (+ particle) + なり: 「家族になり友人になり」
※ The main clause is typically 「〜すればいい」, 「〜しなさい」, 「〜したらどうか」 or 「〜してください」.
※ Set phrase 「なんなりと」 = anything at all: 「ご用があれば、なんなりとお申し付けください」 (if there's anything you need, just say the word).
Meaning
"Do A or B (whichever — just do something)". Two workable options are given as examples, meaning "whichever way you go about it, you should act", with a note of urging.
Restrictions:
- The main clause is advice, an instruction, a request or an intention — something forward-looking. It can't narrate the past: ❌ 「昨日はテレビを見るなり本を読むなりした」 (for narration use 「たり〜たり」).
- Mostly said to equals or juniors, with a "whatever works, just get on with it" tone; to a superior it can sound rude: △ 「部長、電話するなりメールするなりしてください」.
- The options are ones the speaker finds acceptable, not the only two possibilities.
Example Sentences
- 分からないことがあったら、先生に聞くなり辞書で調べるなりしなさい。(If there's something you don't understand, ask your teacher or look it up in a dictionary — do something.)
- 遅れるなら、電話するなりメールするなりして、必ず連絡してください。(If you're going to be late, make sure you let us know, whether by phone or by email.)
- そんなに疲れているなら、少し横になるなり、今日は早めに帰るなりしたらどうですか。(If you're that tired, why not lie down for a bit, or go home early today?)
- 使わなくなった家具は、売るなり人に譲るなり、好きにしていいよ。(The furniture you don't use any more — sell it, give it away, whatever you like.)
- 一人で悩んでいないで、家族になり友人になり相談してみたらどう？(Don't worry about it on your own — why not talk to your family or a friend?)
Comparison
| Expression | Meaning | Main clause |
|---|---|---|
| なり〜なり | A or B (just do something) | Advice, instruction, request, intention (forward-looking) |
| たり〜たり | things like A and B | Can narrate the past or habits; neutral (N5 Lesson 7) |
| dictionary form + なり (Lesson 76) | the moment… | Time: a past fact, same subject |
❌ 昨日は映画を見るなり買い物をするなりした。
⭕ 昨日は映画を見たり買い物をしたりした。(Yesterday I saw a film, did some shopping and so on.)
⭕ 暇なら、映画を見るなり買い物をするなりすればいい。(If you're free, go and see a film or do some shopping.)
Both 「なり」 take the dictionary form, but they're easy to tell apart: two 「なり」 in a row followed by advice is this lesson's pattern; a single one followed by a sudden past action is Lesson 76's.
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4. 〜であれ〜であれ/〜であれ ~de are ~de are / ~de are (Whether A or B… / Whatever…)
Conjugation
- Noun / na-adjective stem + であれ + noun / na-adjective stem + であれ
- Question word + であれ: 何であれ, 誰であれ, どこであれ, 理由はどうであれ
- Same meaning: 〜であろうと〜であろうと
※ 「であれ」 is the old imperative of 「である」, so it only follows nouns and na-adjectives. 「遅かれ早かれ」 (sooner or later) and 「多かれ少なかれ」 (more or less) are set phrases left over from the matching old form for i-adjectives.
Meaning
"Whether it's A or B, (the same applies)", "whatever it is". A and B (or a question word) stand for every possible case, and the main clause holds in all of them.
Restrictions:
- Written style. The main clause is usually a general judgment, a rule or the speaker's position: 「〜に変わりはない」, 「〜べきだ」, 「〜なければならない」, 「許されない」.
- A and B are normally two contrasting members of one category: adult / child, full-time / part-time, at home / abroad.
- Verbs and i-adjectives can't take it directly: ❌ 「行くであれ行かないであれ」 → ⭕ 「行くにせよ行かないにせよ」; ❌ 「暑いであれ寒いであれ」 → ⭕ 「暑かろうと寒かろうと」 (Lesson 80).
Example Sentences
- 正社員であれアルバイトであれ、仕事に対する責任に変わりはない。(Full-time or part-time, your responsibility for the work is the same.)
- 大人であれ子どもであれ、ルールは守らなければならない。(Adult or child, everyone has to follow the rules.)
- 理由はどうであれ、暴力は決して許されるものではない。(Whatever the reason, violence can never be excused.)
- 国内であれ海外であれ、旅行の前には保険に入っておいたほうがいい。(Whether you're travelling at home or abroad, it's best to take out insurance before you go.)
- 誰であれ、他人のプライバシーを侵害する権利はない。(No one, whoever they are, has the right to invade another person's privacy.)
Comparison
| Expression | Attaches to | Register |
|---|---|---|
| であれ〜であれ | nouns, na-adjectives | Most formal |
| にせよ〜にせよ／にしろ〜にしろ | nouns, verbs, adjectives | Formal, a bit stiff (N2 Lesson 59) |
| にしても〜にしても | nouns, verbs, adjectives | More conversational (N2 Lesson 67) |
| を問わず | nouns only, often umbrella words like 「男女」 or 「年齢」 | Formal (N2 Lesson 67) |
All four mean roughly "whether A or B"; N1 mostly tests the form: after a verb 「であれ」 won't do — use 「にせよ」, 「にしろ」 or 「（よ）うが〜まいが」 below.
「を問わず」 isn't used as a pair: 「年齢を問わず」 ⭕, 「大人を問わず子どもを問わず」 ❌.
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5. 〜だの〜だの ~dano ~dano (…and… and so on [complaining])
Conjugation
- Noun / na-adjective stem + だの
- Verb / i-adjective plain form + だの
- Often followed by 「と（言う）」 or 「で」; also 「〜だのなんだの」 ("… and whatnot")
※ Conversational. Mostly used to report what someone else says.
Meaning
"A, B and so on (and on)". Lists a few examples with irritation, annoyance or reproach. The classic use is reporting someone's complaints, excuses or nitpicking; it also lists a pile of things that wear you down.
Restrictions:
- Basically negative in tone, so it's not for formal settings. Reporting a parent's or boss's words with it is grumbling (as in example 2) — fine behind their back with people you're close to, disrespectful to their face or to outsiders.
- With positive content it still sounds "on and on" or dismissive: △ 「かわいいだの素敵だのと褒められた」 comes across as a little offhand.
- The main clause is often 「言う」, 「文句」, 「うるさい」, 「〜ばかり」 or 「暇もない」.
Example Sentences
- 弟は、宿題が多いだの先生が厳しいだのと、毎日文句ばかり言っている。(My younger brother complains every day — too much homework, strict teachers, and so on.)
- 父は、部屋が汚いだの帰りが遅いだの、私のやることにいちいち口を出してくる。(My room's a mess, I come home too late — my father has something to say about everything I do.)
- 引っ越しの前は、役所の手続きだの荷造りだので、息つく暇もなかった。(Before the move, what with paperwork at the city office and packing and everything, I didn't have a moment to breathe.)
- 彼は、頭が痛いだの電車が遅れただのと言っては、しょっちゅう会議に遅れてくる。(He's always late for meetings, with one excuse after another — a headache, a delayed train.)
- 彼女は、ブランドのバッグだの高級な時計だの、高いものばかり欲しがる。(Designer bags, luxury watches — she only ever wants expensive things.)
Comparison
| Expression | Tone | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| だの〜だの | annoyed, reproachful | Usually reports someone's complaints or excuses; conversational |
| やら〜やら | jumbled, hectic | Lots of things at once; also mixed feelings: 「嬉しいやら恥ずかしいやら」 |
| とか〜とか | neutral | Ordinary examples; conversational |
| たり〜たり | neutral | Lists actions (N5 Lesson 7) |
「宿題が多いだの先生が厳しいだのと文句を言う」= complains about this and that (irritation)
「引っ越しやら転職やらで忙しかった」= I was run off my feet, what with moving house and changing jobs (hectic)
「週末は映画を見るとか買い物するとかして過ごす」= at weekends I see a film or go shopping (neutral)
On the test, if the main clause has 「文句」, 「うるさい」 or 「いちいち」 and what comes before is quoted speech, pick 「だの」.
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6. 〜（よ）うが〜まいが/〜（よ）うと〜まいと ~(yo) u ga ~mai ga / ~(yo) uto ~mai to (Whether or not…)
Conjugation
- Verb volitional form + が + the same verb's まい form + が
- Verb volitional form + と + the same verb's まい form + と
The まい form (N2 Lesson 72):
- Godan verbs: dictionary form + まい (行く → 行くまい, 降る → 降るまい)
- Ichidan verbs: dictionary form / masu-stem + まい (信じる → 信じるまい／信じまい)
- する → するまい／すまい／しまい; 来る → 来るまい／来まい
※ A common mistake: ❌ 「降らないまいが」 — 「まい」 is already negative, so no 「ない」 before it.
Meaning
"Whether or not A, (the main clause is unaffected)". The positive and negative of the same verb cover every case, stressing that the main clause has nothing to do with A. Stronger and more formal than 「〜ても〜なくても」.
Restrictions:
- The main clause is an outcome that isn't affected, or the speaker's resolve or judgment: 「〜に関係ない」, 「〜の自由だ」, 「〜は変わらない」, 「〜つもりだ」.
- Both halves must be the positive and negative of the same verb. Pairs of different verbs (「泣こうがわめこうが」), question words (「何と言われようが」) and a single 「（よ）うが」 are covered in Lesson 80.
- 「が」 and 「と」 mean the same and are interchangeable.
Example Sentences
- 君が賛成しようがするまいが、私の決心は変わらない。(Whether you agree or not, my mind is made up.)
- 雨が降ろうが降るまいが、祖父は毎朝の散歩を欠かさない。(Rain or shine, my grandfather never misses his morning walk.)
- 彼が来ようと来るまいと、会議は時間どおりに始めます。(Whether he comes or not, the meeting will start on time.)
- 信じようが信じるまいが、これは実際にあった話だ。(Believe it or not, this really happened.)
- 試験に合格しようとするまいと、ここまで努力してきたことは決して無駄にはならない。(Whether or not you pass the exam, all the work you've put in will never be wasted.)
Comparison
| Expression | Register | Main clause |
|---|---|---|
| （よ）うが〜まいが／（よ）うと〜まいと | Formal, strongest | Resolve, "it makes no difference", an unaffected fact |
| にしろ〜にしろ／にせよ〜にせよ | Formal | Can also take a request: 「行くにしろ行かないにしろ、早く決めてほしい」 (N2 Lesson 59) |
| ても〜なくても | Conversational, neutral | No restrictions (N4 Lesson 30) |
「来ようが来るまいが」, 「来るにしろ来ないにしろ」 and 「来ても来なくても」 all mean "whether (he) comes or not".
The difference is tone: 「（よ）うが〜まいが」 has a hard "I couldn't care less / it's nothing to do with me" edge, which is why the main clause is so often a resolution or 「関係ない」 / 「勝手だ」.
✍ Practice this point (3 questions)
Practice
Part 1: Choose the appropriate grammar (といい / といわず / なり / であれ / だの / （よ）うが〜まいが)
- 外観（ ）内装（ ）、文句のつけようがない家だ。
- 床（ ）壁（ ）、部屋中にカビが生えていた。
- 休みの日は、映画を見る（ ）買い物に行く（ ）して、気分転換したらどうですか。
- 社長（ ）新入社員（ ）、会社の規則は守るべきだ。
- 寒い（ ）眠い（ ）と言って、息子はなかなか起きてこない。
- 周りが反対し（ ）する（ ）、私はこの計画を進めるつもりだ。
- 理由はどう（ ）、約束を破ったのは君が悪い。
- 歌（ ）ダンス（ ）、彼女はまさにプロだ。
Part 2: Translate into Japanese
- The taste, the portions — this restaurant couldn't be better. (Use といい〜といい)
- He worked day and night. (Use といわず〜といわず)
- If you don't understand, just ask the teacher or look it up online. (Use なり〜なり)
- Nobody, whoever they are, is allowed to break the law. (Use であれ)
- She's always complaining — her pay is low, she has too much work, and so on. (Use だの〜だの)
- Whether he comes or not, we'll leave on time. (Use （よ）うが〜まいが)
Answers
- といい / といい (the main clause 「文句のつけようがない」 is a verdict, so 「といわず」 doesn't fit)
- といわず / といわず (the main clause is a fact — mould everywhere — meaning "all of it")
- なり / なり (the main clause is a suggestion; 「見たり行ったりして」 is also perfectly fine, but it isn't one of the options)
- であれ / であれ (「にしろ／にせよ」 also work)
- だの / だの (reported excuses, with irritation)
- ようが / まいが (反対しようがするまいが; 「ようと / まいと」 also work)
- であれ
- といい / といい (a verdict — "a true professional" — so not 「といわず」)
- この店は、味といい量といい、申し分ない。
- 彼は昼といわず夜といわず働き続けた。
- 分からなければ、先生に聞くなりネットで調べるなりすればいい。
- 誰であれ、法律に違反することは許されない。
- 彼女はいつも、給料が安いだの仕事が多いだのと文句を言っている。
- 彼が来ようが来るまいが、私たちは時間どおりに出発する。
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