GRAMMAR DETAIL
〜とて
In literary language, acknowledges a particular person or situation while showing that the following principle or result does not change.
Examples
上司とて、すべての判断を一人で下せるわけではない。
Even a supervisor cannot make every decision alone.
Words used
子どもとて、傷つく言葉は分かる。
Even children understand words that hurt.
Words used
専門家とて、判断を誤ることはある。
Even experts sometimes make errors in judgment.
Words used
Study notes
1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning
- Structure: Attach
とてto a noun to state in literary language that the role or entity is no exception to the following judgment. - Basic usage:
専門家とて、判断を誤ることはある。acknowledges that experts too can make errors of judgment.
2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions
- Expanding it with ても
- In this context,
専門家とてcan be expanded to専門家であっても. Although short,とてsuits literary concession more than everyday speech.
- In this context,
- The ending need not be negative
- A positive statement can follow, as in
子どもとて、傷つく言葉は分かる. The concession concerns expectations about the subject, not whether the sentence ends in a negative form.
- A positive statement can follow, as in