1.
sooner or later; eventually; inevitably
An expression meaning that something will happen eventually regardless of timing. Implies inevitability — whether it happens early or late, the outcome is certain.
遅かれ早かれ分かることだ。
It's something that will come to light sooner or later.
遅かれ早かれ、彼も真実を知るだろう。
Sooner or later, he too will learn the truth.
この問題は遅かれ早かれ対処しなければならなかった。
This problem had to be dealt with sooner or later.
遅かれ早かれ is a set expression meaning "sooner or later" — something will inevitably happen regardless of timing.
GRAMMAR:
Uses the classical concessive adjective form かれ. Literally: "be it late, be it early."
USAGE:
Typically placed at the beginning of a clause or sentence, followed by a statement about an inevitable outcome.
SIMILAR PATTERN:
多かれ少なかれ: more or less, to some degree (same classical かれ pattern)
SIMILAR EXPRESSIONS:
- いずれ: eventually, someday
- いつかは: at some point
- 結局: in the end, after all