とも～とも

The structure とも～とも is used to express that something cannot be clearly determined, judged, or categorized as one thing or another. It conveys ambiguity, uncertainty, or an inability to draw a definitive conclusion. The speaker is unable to say which of two (or more) possibilities applies.

This pattern typically takes the form A とも B とも つかない / 言えない / 分からない / 判断できない, where A and B represent two contrasting or alternative descriptions. Common sentence-ending expressions include つかない (indeterminate), いえない言えない (cannot say), わからない分からない (cannot tell), and はんだん判断できない (cannot judge).

With contrasting adjectives or descriptions

This is the most common usage – describing something that falls ambiguously between two qualities.

With verbs

Used when an action or outcome cannot be clearly classified.

With nouns

Used when something cannot be identified as one category or another.

Key nuances

• This is a formal, literary expression often found in written Japanese, news commentary, and sophisticated speech.
• The pattern emphasizes genuine ambiguity – the speaker truly cannot determine which side something falls on.
• It differs from ～か～か (simple "whether A or B") because とも～とも specifically highlights the inability to distinguish or conclude.