JLPT N1 Grammar

〜うが〜まいが (u ga... mai ga)

〜うが〜まいが (u ga... mai ga)
“whether... or not; regardless of whether... or not”

This expression is used to state that a certain result, determination, or situation remains unchanged regardless of whether a particular action is taken or not. It connects the affirmative volitional form with the negative volitional form to cover all possibilities.

  • Formality: Formal / Literary. It is primarily used in written Japanese, formal speeches, or by individuals in positions of authority making firm declarations.
  • Context: Business strategy (deciding on a course of action regardless of market reaction), legal/contractual obligations, or personal manifestos regarding professional discipline.
  • Nuance: It carries a strong sense of resolve or an objective, unyielding reality. The speaker is emphasizing that "Action A" and "Non-action A" both lead to the same "Result B," often implying that the speaker’s mind is made up or that a rule is absolute.

Format

  • Verb 1 (Volitional Form)] + が + [Verb 2 (Dictionary Form)] + まいが
    行くが、行くまいが、結果は同じだ。 Whether you go or not, the result is the same.
    周囲が反対しようが、しまいが、私はこの事業を継続する。 Whether the people around me oppose it or not, I will continue this business.

Note on Verb 2:
Group 1: [Dictionary] + まい (e.g., 書くまい)
Group 2: [Stem] + まい (e.g., 食べまい) OR [Dictionary] + まい (e.g., 食べるまい)
Suru: しまい / するまい / すまい
Kuru: こまい / くるまい

Example sentences

  • 、、。
    Whether our competitors follow suit or not, we will push forward with our own roadmap.
  • 、、さ。
    Whether the budget is approved or not, we must complete this development project.
  • 、、。
    Whether the users accept it or not, specification changes are unavoidable for legal compliance.
  • 、、。
    Whether the economy recovers or not, we will carry out cost reductions in the next quarter.
  • 、、。
    Whether he comes or not, the meeting will start exactly on time.

Similar Grammar

〜にせよ〜にせよ (ni seyo... ni seyo)

“whether X or Y”
行くにせよ行かないにせよ、早めに連絡をください。 Whether you go or not, please contact me early.

Difference:

  • This is used to list two different options or examples. While 〜うが〜まいが is strictly "A or not A," 〜にせよ can be "A or B" (e.g., "Whether it's an engineer or a manager").
  • It is also slightly less intense in terms of "resolve."

〜にかかわらず (ni kakawarazu)

“regardless of...”
理由のいかんにかかわらず、遅刻は認められません。 Regardless of the reason, being late is not permitted.

Difference:

  • This is much broader and can follow nouns (e.g., "Regardless of age").
  • When used with verbs, it usually takes the form 〜するかしないかにかかわらず. 〜うが〜まいが is more literary and carries a stronger rhetorical punch.

〜たところで (ta tokoro de)

“even if...”
今さら後悔したところで、時間は戻らない。 Even if you regret it now, you can't turn back time.

Difference:

  • This emphasizes that a certain action will be useless or have no effect (e.g., "Even if you apologize, it's too late").
  • 〜うが〜まいが simply states the result is the same in both cases without necessarily implying the action is "useless."

〜ともなく / 〜ともなしに (to mo naku / to mo nashi ni)

“without particularly intending to...”
見るともなくテレビを見ていたら、友達が映っていた。 I was watching TV aimlessly when my friend appeared on screen.

Difference:

  • This describes doing something unconsciously or aimlessly (e.g., "Looking out the window without really thinking").
  • It does not deal with "whether or not" scenarios.

〜であろうと〜であろうと (de arou to... de arou to)

“whether it be... or...”
大人であろうと子供であろうと、ルールは守らなければならない。 Whether you are an adult or a child, you must follow the rules.

Difference:

  • This is the volitional form of the copula だ/です.
  • It is used with nouns to say "Whether it be a large company or a startup." 〜うが〜まいが focuses on the action or occurrence described by a verb.

JLPT Practice Questions

Now let’s test your understanding.

Q1. が（　　　）、のは。
A.
B.
C.
D.

Q2. がが（　　　）が、はされる。
A.
B.
C.
D.

Q3. がが（　　　）が、はどおり。
A.
B.
C.
D.

Q4. が（　　　）、ことにはない。
A.
B.
C.
D.

Q5. が（　　　）が、これはである。
A.
B.
C.
D.

Q6. の（　　　）、でしなければがない。
A.
B.
C.
D.

Q7. のを（　　　）、このは中に。
A.
B.
C.
D.

Q8. がが（　　　）が、に。
A.
B.
C.
D.

Q9. に（　　　）、したにがある。
A.
B.
C.
D.

Q10. （　　　）、のはだ。
A.
B.
C.
D.

Q11. が（　　　）、がしなければはしない。
A.
B.
C.
D.

Q12. は（　　　）、までのをだろう。
A.
B.
C.
D.

Q13. が（　　　）、このにはながある。
A.
B.
C.
D.

Q14. を（　　　）、のは。
A.
B.
C.
D.

Q15. （　　　）、のなを。
A.
B.
C.
D.

Continue Your Journey to Native-Level Fluency

Great work finishing this session! Achieving N1-level precision is about layering these subtle distinctions until they become second nature in your professional life.

To maintain your momentum and eliminate any remaining blind spots, head back to our JLPT N1 Grammar List. Use it to systematically check off each point and refine your ability to navigate complex Japanese environments with the confidence of a native speaker.

JLPT N1 Grammar List

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