How do you use "be it / if need be / as it were" in a sentence?

Be it ever so humble, there's no place like home. I'll do it myself, if need be. He was, as it were, a fish out of water. Be that as it may, we must continue.

be it / if need be / as it were

Q: What does "be it / if need be / as it were" mean?

Fixed subjunctive expressions 'Be it' (whether it is): 'Be it rain or shine.' 'If need be' (if necessary): 'I'll work all night if need be.' 'As it were' (so to speak): hedging expression for figurative language.

Grammar Pattern BritishAmericanAustralian ★★★☆☆ Moderate Formal

Meaning: Fixed subjunctive expressions

固定的虚拟语气表达

Expresiones fijas del subjuntivo

固定された仮定法表現

고정된 가정법 표현

'Be it' (whether it is): 'Be it rain or shine.' 'If need be' (if necessary): 'I'll work all night if need be.' 'As it were' (so to speak): hedging expression for figurative language.

'Be it'（无论是否）：'Be it rain or shine.'（无论晴雨）'If need be'（如有必要）'As it were'（可以说）：用于比喻语言的缓和表达。

'Be it' (sea lo que sea): 'Be it rain or shine.' 'If need be' (si es necesario). 'As it were' (por así decirlo): expresión de cobertura para lenguaje figurado.

「Be it」（〜であろうと）：「Be it rain or shine.」「If need be」（必要なら）「As it were」（いわば）：比喩的表現の緩和表現。

'Be it' (~이든 간에): 'Be it rain or shine.' 'If need be' (필요하다면): 'I'll work all night if need be.' 'As it were' (말하자면): 비유적 표현을 완화하는 표현입니다.

Examples

Be it ever so humble, there's no place like home.
无论多么简陋，没有比家更好的地方了。
Por muy humilde que sea, no hay lugar como el hogar.
どんなに質素でも、我が家に勝る場所はない。
아무리 초라해도, 집만 한 곳은 없다.
I'll do it myself, if need be.
如果需要的话，我自己来。
Lo haré yo mismo, si es necesario.
必要なら、自分でやります。
필요하다면, 직접 하겠다.
He was, as it were, a fish out of water.
可以说，他像离开水的鱼一样格格不入。
Él era, por así decirlo, un pez fuera del agua.
彼は、いわば、水から出た魚のようだった。
그는, 말하자면, 물 밖에 나온 물고기 같았다.
Be that as it may, we must continue.
尽管如此，我们必须继续。
Sea como sea, debemos continuar.
そうは言っても、続けなければならない。
그렇다 하더라도, 계속해야 한다.

Pronunciation

Usage Guide

Context: written, formal, literary

Tone: formal

✓ Do Say

If need be, we can stay longer.
如有必要，我们可以多待一会儿。
Si es necesario, podemos quedarnos más tiempo.
必要なら、もっと長くいられます。
필요하다면, 더 오래 머물 수 있다.
Be that as it may...
尽管如此...
Sea como sea...
いずれにせよ...
그렇다 하더라도...
She was, as it were, caught between two worlds.
她可以说被困在两个世界之间。
Ella estaba, por así decirlo, atrapada entre dos mundos.
彼女は、いわば、二つの世界の間に挟まれていた。
그녀는, 말하자면, 두 세계 사이에 끼어 있었다.

✗ Don't Say

If needs be... (though increasingly common)
If needs be...（虽然越来越常见）
If needs be... (aunque cada vez más común)
If needs be...（増えてきているが）
If needs be... (점점 흔해지고 있지만 비표준)
As it is were... (never correct)
As it is were...（永远不正确）
As it is were... (nunca correcto)
As it is were...（決して正しくない）
As it is were... (절대 올바르지 않음)

Origin & History

Fossilized subjunctive forms

Cultural Context

Era: Modern

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal