By N1, simple concession is not enough. Japanese reaches for a special construction when it wants to broadcast: I do not care which way it goes — the outcome is the same. That construction is 〜ようが〜まいが (also written 〜ようと〜まいと). It is one of the most efficient ways to sound mature, decisive and slightly emphatic in written Japanese.
1. The Skeleton
The pattern fuses two clauses into a single, parallel concession.
| Half | Form | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Affirmative | Verb-volitional + が / と | “Even if you do” |
| Negative | Verb + まい + が / と | “Even if you don’t” |
Both halves attach to the same verb and the result clause asserts that nothing depends on which side wins.
2. Worked Examples
誰が反対しようが反対しまいが、計画は進める。
Whether anyone objects or not, the plan moves forward.
君が来ようと来まいと、私は出発する。
Whether you come or not, I’m leaving.
雨が降ろうが降るまいが、試合は行われる。
Rain or shine, the match goes ahead.
3. The まい Conjugation Trap
まい has historically been the negative volitional, and its conjugation has loosened over time. Modern Japanese tolerates several forms.
| Verb group | Standard form | Acceptable variants |
|---|---|---|
| Group 1 (五段) | 行くまい | (only this) |
| Group 2 (一段) | 食べまい | 食べるまい (also accepted) |
| する | すまい | しまい / するまい |
| 来る | こまい | くるまい / きまい |
For JLPT, learn the standard form and recognize the variants in reading. Productive output uses the standard.
4. ようが vs ようと
The two are essentially interchangeable. Pick by feel:
- ようと〜まいと: slightly more common in newspaper editorials.
- ようが〜まいが: slightly more emphatic; common in spoken assertions.
Both are tested on N1. Your choice will not be marked wrong.
5. Compared to 〜ても
The classic concession 〜ても covers only one direction. ようが〜まいが covers both at once.
誰が反対しても、計画は進める。
Even if someone objects, the plan moves forward. (one direction)
誰が反対しようが反対しまいが、計画は進める。
Whether they object or not, the plan moves forward. (both directions)
The N1 version emphasizes that no possibility on either side can change the outcome.
6. The N1 Common Mistake
- Mismatched verbs: ✗ 食べようが行くまいが — both halves must use the same verb.
- Wrong volitional: ✗ 行きようが — Group 1 verbs use 行こう, not 行きよう.
- Missing が/と after まい: ✗ 行こうが行くまい、進める — both halves need the connective particle.
7. Adjacent N1 Patterns
Three more N1 patterns share the “regardless” family:
- 〜にしろ〜にしろ: “whether X or Y,” for two separate possibilities (not affirmative/negative pair).
- 〜であれ〜であれ: literary version of the same.
- 〜かどうかにかかわらず: more formal, “regardless of whether.”
Knowing these adjacents protects you from getting tricked on JLPT discrimination questions.
8. Editorial-Style Practice
This pattern dominates op-eds. Take a recent Japanese editorial and look for the “regardless” family. You will spot at least one instance per 500 characters in commentary writing.
Sample editorial sentence: 経済が回復しようとしまいと、構造改革は不可欠だ。
Whether the economy recovers or not, structural reform is essential.
9. The 5-Sentence Drill
Write five sentences over five days using the structure. Use a different verb category each day:
- Group 1 verb (e.g., 行く, 言う, 帰る).
- Group 2 verb (e.g., 食べる, 見る).
- する.
- 来る.
- An adjective: 〜かろうが〜まいが (rare but tested).
Five sentences are enough to surface every conjugation pitfall.
Drill ようが〜まいが in Kanjijo
Kanjijo’s N1 grammar deck includes the full “regardless” family with cloze cards that force the conjugation correct — including the まい variants natives debate.
Download Kanjijo FreeRelated Reading on Kanjijo
Frequently Asked Questions
“Whether or not” — the outcome is unconditional.
Interchangeable. ようと is slightly more written; ようが more emphatic.
Group 1: dictionary + まい. Group 2: stem + まい (also dict + まい). する/くる have variants.
ても covers one direction. ようが〜まいが covers both at once.
Editorials, essays, emphatic speeches.