とて | Grammar

Structure

[noun] + とて [verb た-form] + とて一 + [counter] + とて + [verb ない-form]

Description

とて means "even" after a noun and "even if" after a verb: whoever it is, or whatever is done, the outcome stays the same. It is literary, found in writing, speeches and set phrases. In conversation you say でも, だって or ても instead.

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Even adults make mistakes.

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Even the company president has to obey the law.

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Even experts don't know everything.

After a person, とて can also mean "I too", "they too": the person is no exception to what everyone else feels or does.

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I'm only human too – I make mistakes like anyone.

After a verb: たとて

After a verb, とて usually follows the た-form and means "even if": the action changes nothing. いくら, どんなに or いまさら今さら often come first.

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However much you cry, you can't change the past.

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Regretting it now won't help.

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Even if he comes, nothing will change.

The everyday version of the same sentence uses ても: いまさら今さらこうかい後悔しても、どうにもならない。

Usage notes

These go beyond a single noun or verb.

一日とて～ない

一 plus a counter plus とて, with a negative verb, means "not a single…". It is the literary twin of いちにち一日も〜～ない.

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I haven't taken a single day off.

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Not a day has gone by that I haven't remembered.

誰とて

with a negative means "no one at all", nobody is exempt.

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No one is an exception.

Examples

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Even a child can understand something like that.

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Even a king cannot escape death.

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No matter how much you cry, you can't change the past.

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No one can ignore this problem.

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Even if you apologize now, I don't think you'll be forgiven.

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Even experts don't know everything.

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I have not forgotten even for a single day.

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No matter how hard you try, there are limits to talent.

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Even parents sometimes don't understand their children's feelings.

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Even if you have money, it doesn't mean you'll be happy.

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Even if he comes, nothing will change.

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I'm only human too, so I make mistakes sometimes.

References

The Particles とてともimabi.org