ようが / ようと

The grammar structures ようが and ようと express "no matter what/how…" or "even if…", emphasizing that the outcome will not change regardless of the condition described. They convey strong determination or inevitability. Both forms are interchangeable in meaning, though ようと can sound slightly more literary.

Formation

These patterns attach to the volitional form of verbs (the おう/よう form):

They can also attach to い-adjectives by replacing the final い with かろう:

And to nouns/な-adjectives using であろうが / であろうと:

Paired alternatives: ～ようが～ようが / ～ようと～ようと

Two volitional clauses can be paired to express "whether X or Y, it doesn't matter":

Key nuances

• This pattern is used in formal writing and speech, and carries a strong, emphatic tone.
• The clause after ようが/ようと typically expresses something unchangeable or a firm resolution.
• Common question words like なん何、だれ誰、どこ、どんなに often appear in the first clause to reinforce the "no matter" meaning.
• Do not confuse this with the volitional form used for volition or suggestions – here it functions purely as a concessive conditional.