かれ～かれ | Grammar

Structure

[i-adj (A) 〜い → 〜かれ] + [i-adj (B) 〜い → 〜かれ]

Note: Used only in fixed pairs of contrasting い-adjectives. Common expressions:

遅かれ早かれ (sooner or later)
多かれ少なかれ (more or less)
良かれ悪しかれ (for better or worse)
良かれ (with good intentions – standalone use)

Description

The pattern かれ～かれ is an archaic/literary construction that attaches to pairs of opposing or contrasting words to express the meaning of "whether … or …", "more or less", or "sooner or later". It appears almost exclusively in fixed expressions and set phrases rather than being freely productive in modern Japanese.

Common fixed expressions

The most frequently encountered phrases using this pattern are:

おそかれ遅かれはやかれ早かれ – "sooner or later" (lit. "whether late or early")

おそかれ遅かれはやかれ早かれ、だろう。

Sooner or later, the truth will come to light.

おおかれ多かれすくなかれ少なかれ – "more or less / to some extent" (lit. "whether much or little")

おおかれ多かれすくなかれ少なかれ、。

More or less, everyone carries some stress.

よかれ良かれあしかれ悪しかれ – "for better or worse" (lit. "whether good or bad")

よかれ良かれあしかれ悪しかれ、。

For better or worse, we have no choice but to make a decision.

How it works

The かれ attached to each word is a classical Japanese auxiliary ending (the imperative/realis form of the classical copula or adjective conjugation). In modern Japanese, this form is no longer productive, so learners should focus on memorizing the set phrases rather than trying to create new combinations.

Usage notes

This pattern belongs to formal or written Japanese and is common in essays, speeches, news commentary, and literary contexts.
The two words joined by かれ～かれ are always antonyms or contrasting concepts (early/late, much/little, good/bad).
Another related expression is よかれとおもって良かれと思って ("with good intentions / meaning well"), which uses the same classical かれ form:
よかれとおもって良かれと思ってやったことが、うらめにでた裏目に出た。
What I did with good intentions backfired.

Examples

おそかれ遅かれはやかれ早かれ、。

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

おおかれ多かれすくなかれ少なかれ、。

More or less, people are influenced by others.

よかれ良かれあしかれ悪しかれ、だろう。

For better or worse, this reform will change society.

おそかれ遅かれはやかれ早かれ、。

Sooner or later, we must face this problem.

おおかれ多かれすくなかれ少なかれ、。

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

、。

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

おそかれ遅かれはやかれ早かれ、。

Sooner or later, technological advances will change our lives.

おおかれ多かれすくなかれ少なかれ、。

To some degree, everyone must be feeling anxious.

よかれ良かれあしかれ悪しかれ、。

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

おそかれ遅かれはやかれ早かれおなじ同じだっ。

I think the result would have been the same sooner or later.

おおかれ多かれすくなかれ少なかれ。

More or less, there is something to learn from failure.

、。

Things done with good intentions can sometimes cause trouble instead.

References

かれ-かれBunpro