日本語道場
Nihongo Dojo — N3 → N2
N2
~うが~まいが
~(y)ō ga ~mai ga
whether or not
When to use it
Use ~うが~まいが in formal or written Japanese to say that the outcome holds regardless of whether an action happens. It is the emphatic, more rhetorical cousin of ~ても~なくても, common in reports, policy statements, and firm negotiating positions. Because it sounds declarative and slightly confrontational, reserve it for written documents or set-piece remarks rather than casual back-and-forth in a meeting.
Formation
Examples
Whether or not we land the contract, please file a report.
Whether or not the director agrees, this policy stands.
Price cut or no price cut, we can't avoid losing share.
Whether or not they accept it, we'll reply within the deadline.
In the black or not, the plan is to keep investing.