JLPT N1 grammar

〜かれ〜かれmeaning and usage

Meaning

Whether A or B; be it A or B (e.g., more or less)

How to form it

  • い-adjective stem (without い)かれい-adjective stem (without い)かれ
  • 遅かれ早かれ/多かれ少なかれ/善かれ悪しかれ

How it is used

From the classical imperative of い-adjectives: 'whether A or B', with A and B opposites. Today it survives mainly in set phrases: 「遅かれ早かれ」 (sooner or later), 「多かれ少なかれ」 (more or less), 「善かれ悪しかれ」 (for better or worse).

Examples

  1. だれでも健康について多かれ少なかれ関心がある。

    Everyone is more or less concerned with their health.

  2. 遅かれ早かれ、本当のことはみんなに知られるだろう。

    Sooner or later, everyone will find out the truth.

  3. 善かれ悪しかれ、この町はこの十年で大きく変わった。

    For better or worse, this town has changed a great deal over the last ten years.