Meaning & usage
であれ expresses that the main statement holds regardless of which person, thing, place, or condition is involved, meaning whether it is A or B or no matter what. It follows a noun directly, as in 偶然であれ故意であれ, or follows an interrogative expression such as なんであれ, だれであれ, どこであれ, or どんな形であれ. It is a formal written form and cannot follow a verb clause directly.
Example sentences 5
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死が、どんな形であれ、おぞましいものです。
Death, in whatever form, is repulsive.
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なんであれ物事の本体を捕らえる事が肝心だ。
No matter what the problem is, it's essential to get at the heart of the matter.
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たとえ天候がどうであれ、私は行きます。
I will go, be the weather what it may.
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偶然であれ故意であれ、彼がそれをしたのは本当だ。
It is true that he did it, whether by accident or by design.
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理性的な人であれば、政治的信条がどうであれ、その計画に反対することはないだろう。
No rational person, of whatever political persuasion, could possibly object to the program.
In past JLPT papers
This came up in 1 past exam question.
