1.
no matter what; by all means; at any cost
Expresses strong determination to achieve something regardless of obstacles or circumstances. Emphasizes the speaker's unwavering resolve.
何が何でも勝ちたい。
I want to win no matter what.
何が何でも今日中に終わらせる。
I'll finish it by the end of today no matter what.
彼は何が何でも自分の夢を叶えるつもりだと言っていた。
He said he intended to make his dream come true no matter what.
USAGE:
Used to express strong resolve or insistence. Often appears before verbs of desire or intention such as ～たい, ～つもりだ, or ～なければならない. Stronger and more emphatic than どうしても.
SIMILAR WORDS:
- どうしても: by all means — similar meaning but slightly less emphatic
- 絶対に: absolutely — expresses certainty or strong will, but lacks the "regardless of obstacles" nuance
- 是が非でも: at any cost — literary equivalent with similar force