A うが B うが

When to use

A うが B うが: no matter whether A or B. Same as うと～うと.

Explanation

The ～うが ～うが grammar pattern is used to express that regardless of the conditions in A and B, the result remains the same. Often you’ll see volitional forms or i-adjective '-かろうが' forms. It can be translated as 'no matter how... or...', 'even if... or...'.

• 朝あさ早はやかろうが夜よる遅おそかろうが、いつもバスが遅おくれる。

  No matter whether it's early morning or late at night, the bus is always late.

  Asa hayakarou ga yoru osokarou ga, itsumo basu ga okureru.

• 彼かれに話はなそうが話はなすまいが、結果けっかは変かわらない。

  Even if I talk to him or don't, the outcome won't change.

  Kare ni hanasou ga hanasu maiga, kekka wa kawaranai.

• この仕事しごとをしようがしまいが、給料きゅうりょうは同じだ。

  Whether I do this job or not, the salary is the same.

  Kono shigoto o shiyou ga shimai ga, kyuuryou wa onaji da.

• あの人ひとに話はなそうが話はなすまいが、理解りかいしてくれるとは思おもえない。

  I don't think that person would understand whether I talk to them or not.

  Ano hito ni hanasou ga hanasu maiga, rikai shite kureru to wa omoenai.

Regardless (Whether A Or B)

• A うと B うとA uto B utoN1Shows that the speaker is indifferent to both conditions…
• A かれ B かれA kare B kareN1Expresses 'whether A or B'; both situations are included.
• A であれ B であれA deare B deareN1Indicates the same statement applies to both A and B…
• A とも B ともA tomo B tomoN1Expresses two possibilities; 'either A or B', 'whether A…
• A あるいは BA aruiwa BN2Indicates alternatives; 'A or B', 'either A or B'.
• Noun なり Noun なりA nari B nariN1Lists alternatives of the same kind; 'either A or B', 'A…
• A にしろ B にしろA nishiro B nishiroN1Means 'whether it is A or B'; 'regardless of A or B'.
• A にせよ B にせよA ni seyo B ni seyoN1Either A or B; Regardless of whether it's A or B.
• A につけ B につけA ni tsuke B ni tsukeN1Expresses 'whether... or...', 'both... and...', 'in either…
• Noun といい Noun といい〜to ii〜to iiN1Used to express 'both A and B'; 'whether it's A or B'…
• Noun といわず Noun といわずA to iwazu B to iwazuN1Expresses 'both A and B' or 'be it A or B'; applies to…
• ～にしろ～にしろ〜ni shiro 〜ni shiroN2Expresses 'either way', 'in any case', 'be it...', used…

Compare when to use each