GRAMMAR
〜まで ④
go so far as to
Explanation
NOTE
〜まで means go so far as to — someone goes to the extreme of doing an unexpected action.
彼は嘘をついてまで、金を借りた。
He went so far as to lie in order to borrow money.
Implies the speaker finds the extreme action surprising, excessive, or inappropriate.
NOTE
It attaches to the te-form of a verb, marking the action itself as an extreme means to an end.
NOTE
Unlike sense ③ (even, to the extent of [N]), this sense ④ targets a verb action, not a noun.
NOTE
Often carries a negative or critical tone — the speaker sees the action as going too far.
STRUCTURE
Vて
まで彼は嘘を言ってまで、その仕事を断った。
Kare wa uso o itte made, sono shigoto o kotowatta.
He even went so far as to tell a lie to turn down that job.
友達を裏切ってまで、勝ちたいとは思わない。
Tomodachi o uragitte made, kachitai to wa omowanai.
I don't want to win so badly that I would go so far as to betray my friend.
夜遅く電話してまで、相談したいことがあるの？
Yoru osoku denwa shite made, soudan shitai koto ga aru no?
Is there something you want to discuss that is so important you would go so far as to call me late at night?
徹夜してまで、その仕事を終わらせた。
Tetsuya shite made, sono shigoto o owaraseta.
He went so far as to stay up all night to finish that work.
借金をしてまで、車を買いたくない。
Shakkin o shite made, kuruma o kaitakunai.
I don't want to buy a car if it means going so far as to get into debt.
家族を裏切ってまで、成功したいのか。
Kazoku o uragitte made, seikou shitai no ka.
Do you want to succeed so badly that you'd go so far as to betray your family?
Practice exercises
1
彼は勝つために、嘘をついてまで、何でもする。
He does anything, even going so far as to lie, to win.
Answer
まで
2
彼は夢を追ってまで、あまりに無理をした。
He pushed himself too hard, even going so far as to chase his dream.
Answer
まで
3
彼は成功のために、人を裏切ってまで、予想以上だ。
He is more than I expected, even going so far as to betray people for success.
Answer
まで
4
組織は、犠牲者を出してまで、利益を得ようとする。
The organization tries to gain profit, even going so far as to create victims.
Answer
まで
5
彼は有名になるために、犯罪に手を染めてまで、後悔しなかった。
He didn't regret it, even going so far as to commit a crime to become famous.
Answer
まで