第029課: The Particles と, とも, ど, & ども
Although the title may suggest that this lesson is going to be very complicated, it’ll actually be quite easy. You are essentially looking at only two different topics.
The Conjunctive と（も）
These are both conjunctive particles that follow the 終止形 of verbs but the 連用形 of adjectives, and the shorter version is a rarer alternative and should not be confused with the conditional conjunctive particle と in Modern Japanese. Both show hypothetical concession and equate to “though” or “even if”. The usage of this particle became quite restricted in the spoken language after the 江戸時代, but even in Modern Japanese, there are instances like 少なくとも (at the least) and 遅くとも (at the latest) where it is still quite productive. However, given that the shortened form was already uncommon in Classical Japanese, it is unlikely that you’ll ever see it in Modern Japanese.
1. 玉藻苅 海未通女等 見尓将去 船梶毛欲得 浪高友 (原文) 玉藻刈る海人をとめども見に行かむ船楫もがも波高くとも
If only there were a boat or turret to go see the fishermen’s daughters harvesting seaweed.
From the 万葉集.
2. 千年を過ぐすとも、一夜の夢の心ちこそせめ。 (原文)
Even if a thousand years were to pass, it would undoubtedly feel like a dream of a single night.
From the 徒然草.
3. 消えずはありとも
Even if they’re still there and not yet disappeared…
From the 古今和歌集.
4. よろづ代経とも色はかはらじ。
Even if ten thousand generations passed, its color would probably not change.
From the 古今和歌集.
5. さはありとも、などか宮仕へをしたまはざらむ。
Even so, why aren’t you doing your court service?
From the 竹取物語.
6. 花の色は霞にこめて見せずとも香をだにぬすめ春の山風
Although there’s no help but hiding the flower colors with mist, at least steal their scent!
From the 古今和歌集.
7. 穂に出でたりとかひやなからん。
Even if it were to come into ear, it would probably be to no avail.
From the 蜻蛉日記.
8. さと人のことは夏ののしげくともかれ行くきみにあはざらめやは。
Even if the rumors of the villagers were to grow rampant like the summer grass, would I not be able to stand seeing you who runs away from (those rumors)?
From the 古今和歌集.
9. 尓保杼里乃 於吉奈我河波半 多延奴等母 伎美尓可多良武 己等都奇米也母 (原文)
にほ鳥の息長川は絶えぬとも君に語らむ言尽きめやも
Even if the Okinaga River were to cease, would the words I want to speak to you ever run out!?
From the 万葉集.
Noun Note: にほ鳥・鳰鳥 means “grebe” and is an epithet word.
10. わが身は女なりとも敵の手にはかかるまじ。
Though I may be a woman, I shall not fall into the hands of the enemy.
From the 平家物語.
Word Note: It was also common to see the verb 見る shortened to just 見 with と（も）.
11. 徃廻 雖見将飽八 名寸隅乃 船瀬之濱尓 四寸流思良名美 (原文) 往き還り見とも飽かめやも名寸隅の船瀬の浜にしきる白波 Going and coming, no matter how much I see, will I ever get tired of seeing them, the white wave incessantly crashing into the Nakisumi Harbor’s bay? From the 万葉集.
The Conjunctive ど（も）
Although it still exists in Modern Japanese, the conjunctive ど（も）, which attaches to the 已然形 of a conjugatable part of speech and is quite productive just as much in either variant, it is largely replaced in Modern Japanese with け（れ）ど（も）, which is clearly けり＋ど（も）. This also means “although” but it creates a direct concession from existing conditions. So, it is never hypothetical.
12. 残るといへども明日に枯れぬ。
Although they say that it remains, it ends up withering in the morning sun.
From the 方丈記.
13. かくて明けゆく空の気色、昨日にかはりたりとは見えねど、ひきかへめづらしき心地ぞする。
As for the sky’s appearance such as this with the day breaking, although one can’t see that it has really changed since yesterday, one can certainly feel refreshed at heart.
From the 徒然草.
14. 鶴は、いとこちたきさまなれど、鳴く声の雲井まで聞こゆる、いとめでたし。
Though the crane has a very overbearing appearance, it is very admirable that its singing voice can be heard as far as the clouds.
From the 枕草子.
15. 男、血の涙を流せども、とどむるよしなし。
Though the man shed tears of blood, there was no way to keep her (alive).
From the 伊勢物語.
16. よきほどにて出で給ひぬれど、なほ事ざまの優におぼえて、物のかくれよりしばし見ゐたるに、妻戸を今少し
おしあけて、月見るけしきなり。
At the right moment, the person came out, though I was in awe of the home, I looked in cover and saw the lady of the house from the gazing at the moon with the door opened.
From the 徒然草.
Historical Note: As far as frequency is concerned, starting in the 平安時代 the particle ど became associated with women’s literature and ども became associated with 漢文-style writing. By the 鎌倉時代, ど essentially disappeared leaving only ども, which by the 室町時代 was almost completely replaced with けれども as is the case to this day.