Whats the difference in using a たとえ in a sentence. For example:
たとえ行かなくてもいいんだ
行かなくてもいいんだ
From what I understand, even without using たとえ, the sentence already mean " even if you don't go, it's ok". So what's the point in adding たとえ?
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Does this answer your question? 「たとえ + ても」 vs just 「ても」, what is the role of たとえ？ Is it just emphasis or something more? – kaboc Apr 05 '20 at 03:23
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Let's compare some sentences:
1A くびになっても真実を言うつもりだ。 1B たとえくびになっても真実を言うつもりだ。
2A 本当だとしても証拠がない。 2B たとえ本当だとしても証拠がない。
3A 彼が何と言っても言うことを聞くな。 3B たとえ彼が何と言っても言うことを聞くな。
1: Even if it costs me my job, I will tell the truth.
2: Even granting that it's true, there is no evidence.
3: No matter what he says, you must not listen to him.
In these examples, the meaning of A and B are practically the same. Even though A don't have "たとえ", they already imply the meaning of "even" ("ても" functions as "even if").
But B (using "たとえ") emphasize the part "even if". The first part of each sentences may not happen, but even if it happens, the second part wouldn't be changed.
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so all たとえ does is it places and emphasis on the "even if"? whereas without it, it's a weaker even if? – Newbie Apr 05 '20 at 12:27