N4 has とか〜とか, N3 has や〜や. At N1, listing patterns level up to three more advanced expressions, each with a distinct nuance and logic.
であれ〜であれ: Whether… or… (It Doesn't Matter)
「であれ〜であれ」expresses regardless of which option, the conclusion is the same — listing two representative opposites:
| Example | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 女であれ男であれ、みんな彼女の歌声の虜になっている。 | Whether female or male, everyone is captivated by her singing voice. |
| 田中であれ山田であれ、好きな人と付き合ってほしい。 | Whether it's Tanaka or Yamada, I want you to date whoever you like. |
| 晴れであれ雨であれ、試合は予定通り行う。 | Whether sunny or rainy, the match will proceed as planned. |
Connection: Noun + であれ + Noun + であれ であれ = imperative of である → "even if it is…"
Key Points
- Lists two opposing or representative items
- Followed by a conclusion unaffected by either option
- Formal, written tone
- Similar to であろうと〜であろうと
だの〜だの: This and That (With Annoyance)
「だの〜だの」lists multiple items with a tone of annoyance or complaint:
| Example | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 彼はあれやこれやと文句だの愚痴だのばかり言っている。 | He's always going on about complaints and grumbles. |
| 頭が痛いだの、お腹が痛いだの、いつも言い訳ばかりだ。 | "My head hurts," "my stomach hurts" — always making excuses. |
| 高いだの遠いだの言って、結局行かなかった。 | Saying it's too expensive, too far — ended up not going. |
Connection: Noun/Sentence + だの + Noun/Sentence + だの The listed items are typically negative or trivial.
Key Points
- Carries a tone of irritation or disdain
- Implies the list is not exhaustive — there's even more
- More negative in nuance than や〜や
- Also used in spoken language
と言わず〜と言わず: Whether… or… (Everywhere / All of Them)
「と言わず〜と言わず」expresses two representative examples that stand for the whole — "not just A, not just B, but everything":
| Example | Meaning |
|---|---|
| この会社は一般社員と言わず管理職と言わず、やる気が見られない。 | In this company, whether regular employees or managers, there's no motivation anywhere. |
| 手と言わず足と言わず、全身泥だらけだ。 | Hands, feet — the whole body is covered in mud. |
| 昼と言わず夜と言わず、勉強し続けた。 | Day and night, they kept on studying. |
Connection: Noun + と言わず + Noun + と言わず Literally: "not just saying A, not just saying B" = all of them.
Key Points
- Lists two representative parts to express the whole
- Emphasizes no exceptions
- Stronger sense of "every single one" than であれ
Bonus: という〜という
「という〜という」lists two representative aspects of the same category:
| Example | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 陶器は色という形という、非常に価値が高いものだろう。 | Pottery, whether in color or in form, is truly something of great value. |
Nuance: "Whether from the A angle or the B angle, it's excellent."
Comparison
| Pattern | Tone | Coverage |
|---|---|---|
| であれ〜であれ | Formal, neutral | Two choices → same result |
| だの〜だの | Annoyed, negative | Partial list → and more |
| と言わず〜と言わず | Emphatic, comprehensive | Two examples → no exceptions |
Summary
- 「であれ〜であれ」= Whether A or B, the result is the same (formal, neutral)
- 「だの〜だの」= This and that and more (annoyed, listing negatives)
- 「と言わず〜と言わず」= A and B and everything in between (comprehensive, no exceptions)
Self-Check
1. Translate: 「手と言わず足と言わず、全身泥だらけだ。」
Show Answer
"Hands, feet — the whole body is covered in mud." 「と言わず〜と言わず」= lists two representative parts to mean "everything."
2. Which pattern carries an annoyed/negative tone?
Show Answer
だの〜だの. Used to list negative or trivial items with irritation. Example: 「高いだの遠いだの」= "it's too expensive, too far…"
3. Complete with であれ〜であれ: 晴れ______雨______、試合は行う。
Show Answer
晴れであれ雨であれ、試合は行う。 "Whether sunny or rainy, the match will proceed."