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LingakuLingaku"Even if / No matter" (concessive)
With question words ("no matter who/what/where…")
"All / both" (inclusive)
"At least" (minimum extent)
The particle とも has several important uses in Japanese, all carrying a sense of inclusiveness or concession.
When attached to the end of a verb or adjective clause, とも expresses "even if" or "no matter what happens." This usage is literary and somewhat formal, often found in written Japanese or emphatic speech.
This pattern often appears with たとえ (even if) or question words like なん何, だれ誰, どこ to strengthen the concessive meaning.
When combined with question words, とも creates expressions meaning "no matter who/what/where" or "everyone/everything/everywhere."
とも can attach to numbers or counters to mean "both" or "all (of them)." This is used with small quantities.
This usage emphasizes that every single one in the group is included, with no exceptions.
When attached to certain quantity expressions, とも can convey a sense of "at least" or "at the minimum."
とも appears in several common set phrases: