かれ～かれ | Grammar

Structure

[i-adj 〜い → 〜かれ] + [i-adj 〜い → 〜かれ]

Description

かれ～かれ is an old adjective ending that survives in a few fixed pairs of opposites, meaning "whether A or B". おそかれ遅かれはやかれ早かれ is "sooner or later", おおかれ多かれすくなかれ少なかれ "more or less", よかれ良かれあしかれ悪しかれ "for better or worse". New pairs can't be made, so learn these three as words.

、。

Sooner or later, the truth will come out.

、。

Everyone is under some stress, more or less.

、。

For better or worse, we have to make a decision.

かれ is the classical command form of an adjective: 遅かれ is 遅くあれ, "be it late". 悪しかれ comes from 悪し, the classical form of わるい悪い, which is why that pair doesn't follow the modern adjective.

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遅かれ早かれ and 多かれ少なかれ are at home in ordinary conversation as well as writing. 良かれ悪しかれ sounds more formal and turns up mostly in writing and commentary; in speech, いいいみ意味でもわるい悪いいみ意味でも says much the same.

、。

It'll come out sooner or later, you know.

、。

For better or worse, this reform will change society.

良かれと思って

良かれ also stands alone in よかれとおもって良かれと思って, "meaning well", "with good intentions". It usually leads into something that went wrong.

、。

What I did with good intentions backfired.

、。

I meant well when I said it, but I ended up hurting her.

Examples

、。

Sooner or later, he too will come to know this fact.

、。

More or less, people are influenced by others.

、。

For better or worse, this reform will change society.

、。

Sooner or later, we must face this problem.

、。

To a greater or lesser extent, every country has its challenges.

、。

I said it with good intentions, but I ended up hurting her.

、。

Sooner or later, technological advances will change our lives.

、。

To some degree, everyone must be feeling anxious.

、。

For better or worse, his decision shaped the team's fate.

、。

Sooner or later, someone will notice.

。

Every job comes with some stress, more or less.

、。

Things done with good intentions can sometimes cause trouble instead.

References

かれ-かれBunpro