～てもかまわない

Today’s Grammar Point:  ～てもかまわない

かまう means “to care (about..)” or “to have a regard (for…)” and if its negative is used with a てform verb, ～てもかまわない usually means one of the following 2.

1. It is a bit more formal expression of ～てもいい, “(you) may ～.”  (for giving or asking for a permission)
2. It is also used to express a rather reluctant acceptance of a situation like “(it) doesn’t matter even if ～” or “(I) don’t care about ～.”

Connections

• [てform verb] もかまわない
• [てform verb] もかまいません

Examples of the meaning 1

ご自由じゆうにお取とりいただいて構かまいません。(Today’s caption)
Please use it as you like.

いつ来きていただいても構かまいません。
You can come whenever.

これをいただいても構かまいませんか。
Do you mind me taking this?

遅おそくなっても構かまいませんか。
Is it OK even if I arrive late?

いつまでいてくださっても構かまいませんよ。
You can stay as long as you like!

Polite ways to say “yes” to a ～かまいませんか question would be

• はい、どうぞ。
• ええ、だいじょうぶですよ。
• はい/ええ、かまいません。etc.

Examples of the meaning 2

私わたしは叱しかられても構かまいません。
It doesn’t matter if I get reprimanded.

誰だれが何なんと言いおうと構かまわない。
I don’t care what others will say.

どっちが勝かっても構かまわない。
I don’t care which wins.

雨あめにぬれても構かまいません。
I don’t mind getting wet in the rain.

人ひとにどう思おもわれても構かまいません。
I don’t care what other people think.

Answer to Today’s Question: You can take any copy freely.

For the actual meaning of the sentence, see above.

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