Skip to content

N3

てもかまわない

It doesn't matter if, I don't mind

アルバイト募集中ぼしゅうちゅう。未経験者みけいけんしゃでも構かまいません。

Hiring part time workers. It doesn't matter if you are not experienced.

Explanation

「~てもかまわない」 means 'it's fine even if...' or 'I don't mind', giving permission or showing you don't care. Use the 「て」 form of verbs and adjectives (「でも」 for nouns and na-adjectives): 「ここに座ってもかまいません」 (You may sit here, I don't mind). It is close to 「~てもいい」, but literally it says 'it won't bother me', so it is politer and has no feeling of granting a favour. The negative 「なくてもかまわない」 means 'it's fine not to...'.

Mixed up with

「てもいい」 can sound a bit superior, like permission from above. 「てもかまわない」 stresses 'I personally don't mind', and is often used to politely accept a small request.

When asking an elder or a customer for permission, 「~てもかまいませんか」 is a bit casual. In business, 「~てもよろしいでしょうか」 is more fitting.

Examples

  1. その写真しゃしんなら、見みても構かまいません。

    If it is that picture, I don't mind if you look at it.

  2. 欲ほしい人ひとがいればあげても構かまわない。

    If someone wants it, I don't mind giving it to them.

  3. 無視むしされても構かまわない。

    I don't mind if I'm ignored.

Tested 2 times in past papers

N3 · Jul 2015, Q48N2 · Jul 2012, Q37