Practice JLPTHow to tell them apart
にしても and にしろ・にせよ both mark concession, but にしろ・にせよ is the sterner, more formal N1 form often used in commands, warnings, or hypothetical extremes (たとえ練習にしろ), whereas にしても is the everyday N3 form for admitting a fact or softening a contrast (中国の影響が濃厚であるにしても). Swapping them is unnatural when にしろ・にせよ appears in a blunt, prescriptive sentence — にしても there sounds too mild.
- にしても Use にしても in everyday speech when you admit a fact or soften a contrast.
- にしろ・せよ Use にしろ・にせよ in formal or blunt contexts like warnings, commands, or hypothetical extremes.
| Grammar point | Meaning | JLPT level |
|---|---|---|
| にしても nishitemo | Even if/Whether | N3 |
| にしろ・せよ nishiro seyo | Even if / whether | N1 |
にしても nishitemo
Even if/Whether
Even if (someone decides to/it is true that); although/even though (it is true that/it is the case that/we admit that/we agree that/etc.); whatever/whoever/etc.; no matter what/who/how/etc.; whether X or Y; as for ~, too; even (so) | A conjunction that represents the idea of “even if someone decides to do something,” or “even if/though someone decides that something is true/the case”.
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この作品は中国大陸の影響が濃厚であるにしても、日本の画工の高い水準を示している。
Even taking the strong influence from China into account, this work demonstrates the high quality craftsmanship of Japanese painters.
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ニューヨークほどではないにしても、この市でもかなり質の高い音楽が聴けます。
Even though it's not what you get in New York, you can listen to fairly high-quality music in this city, too.
にしろ・せよ nishiro seyo
Even if / whether
Even though (it is/was the case that); even if (it is true that); although (it is/was the case that); whatever/whoever/etc.; no matter what/who/how/etc.; whether X or Y | A conjunctive phrase that carries the meaning of concession.
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たとえ練習に｛しろ/せよ｝、真面目にやらなければならない。
Even though it is just practice, you have to take it seriously.
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どのソフトを使うにしろ、早く使い方に慣れてもらわないといけない。
Whichever software application you use, you must quickly get comfortable using it (literally: get used to how to use it).
にしても and にしろ・せよ are JLPT N3–N1 grammar points that Japanese learners often mix up. This page compares them side by side — meanings, usage and example sentences — so you can tell them apart.