Meaning & Usage
✨ Basic Meaning
‘Although one says…’, ‘Granted that…’, ‘Even though…’
🎯 Primary Function
To qualify or add a condition to a previous statement to ensure the listener has the correct impression.
📋 Grammar Structure
Verb (casual form) + といっても
い-adjective (dictionary form) + といっても
な-adjective (+ だ) + といっても
Verb (ない-form) + といっても
🎭 Usage Contexts
Formal Situations
Commonly used in business to clarify the scope of a project or skill level.
Informal Situations
Very common in daily conversation when being modest or explaining details.
Written Language
Used in essays and articles to refine definitions or statements.
Spoken Language
Used frequently to add a ‘but’ or ‘mind you’ nuance.
💡 Common Applications
Clarifying skills
Used to explain that one’s ability is not as great as the listener might assume.
Example: 日本語ができるといっても、下手です。
Adjusting expectations
Used to clarify that something described as ‘new’ or ‘good’ has limits.
Example: 新しいといっても、一年前のモデルです。
Softening statements
Used to reassure someone that despite being busy, a situation is manageable.
Example: 忙しいといっても、大丈夫です。
Frequency
High in both spoken and written Japanese to provide nuance and prevent misunderstandings.
Difficulty
N3 (Intermediate)
Tag:
Example Sentences
Example #1
日本語ができるといっても、日常会話程度です。
Furigana: にほんごができるといっても、にちじょうかいわていどです。
Romaji: Nihongo ga dekiru to itte mo, nichijou kaiwa teido desu.
English: I can speak Japanese, but it’s only at a daily conversation level.
Example #2
料理ができるといっても、目玉焼きぐらいですよ。
Furigana: りょうりができるといっても、めだまやきぐらいですよ。
Romaji: Ryouri ga dekiru to itte mo, medamayaki gurai desu yo.
English: I can cook, but only things like fried eggs.
Example #3
新しい車といっても、中古車なんです。
Furigana: あたらしいくるまといっても、ちゅうこしゃなんです。
Romaji: Atarashii kuruma to itte mo, chuukosha nan desu.
English: Even though I say it’s a new car, it’s actually a used car from last year.
Example #4
忙しいといっても、週末は休めます。
Furigana: いそがしいといっても、しゅうまつはやすめます。
Romaji: Isogashii to itte mo, shuumatsu wa yasumemasu.
English: I’m busy, but I can still take breaks on the weekends.
Example #5
寒いといっても、雪が降るほどではありません。
Furigana: さむいといっても、ゆきがふるほどではありません。
Romaji: Samui to itte mo, yuki ga furu hodo de wa arimasen.
English: It’s cold, but not so cold that it would snow.
Example #6
走れるといっても、１キロだけです。
Furigana: はしれるといっても、１キロだけです。
Romaji: Hashireru to itte mo, ichi-kiro dake desu.
English: Even though I say I can run, I can only run one kilometer.
Example #7
漢字が書けるといっても、簡単なものだけです。
Furigana: かんじがかけるといっても、かんたんなものだけです。
Romaji: Kanji ga kakeru to itte mo, kantan na mono dake desu.
English: I can write Kanji, but only simple ones.
Example #8
旅行といっても、日帰りですよ。
Furigana: りょこうといっても、ひがえりですよ。
Romaji: Ryokou to itte mo, higaeri desu yo.
English: It’s a “trip,” but it’s just a day trip.
Example #9
安いといっても、一万円はします。
Furigana: やすいといっても、いちまんえんはします。
Romaji: Yasui to itte mo, ichiman-en wa shimasu.
English: Even though you say it’s cheap, it still costs about 10,000 yen.
Example #10
彼はプロといっても、まだ新人です。
Furigana: かれはプロといっても、まだしんじんです。
Romaji: Kare wa puro to itte mo, mada shinjin desu.
English: He is a professional, but he is still a newcomer.
Notes & Nuances
📌 Important Points
Correcting a potential overestimation.
The second part of the sentence often expresses that the reality is less impressive than the words suggest.
Example: 庭があるといっても、猫の額ほどです。
⚠️ Common Mistakes
❌ 日本語ができるといっても、とても上手です。
✅ 日本語ができるといっても、少しだけです。
Learners sometimes forget that the second part of the sentence must limit or clarify the first part.
🏛️ Cultural Context
Politeness Level: Neutral. Can be used with both polite and casual endings.
Social Situations: Essential for the Japanese concept of modesty (謙譲 – kenjou), as it allows speakers to acknowledge a fact while downplaying its importance.
Regional Variations: Standard Japanese usage.
🔍 Subtle Differences
といっても vs. とはいえ (To wa ie)
‘To wa ie’ is more formal and used in writing. ‘To itte mo’ is more common in spoken Japanese.
When to use: Use ‘To wa ie’ for academic writing or formal reports.
といっても vs. のに (Noni)
‘Noni’ expresses frustration or surprise at a contradiction. ‘To itte mo’ focuses on clarification.
When to use: Use ‘Noni’ for emotions, ‘To itte mo’ for facts.
📝 Conjugation Notes
Nouns and な-adjectives can optionally take ‘だ’ before ‘といっても’, but it is often omitted in casual speech. Verb and い-adjectives use the plain/dictionary form.
🔊 Pronunciation Tips
Keep the ‘t’ in ‘itte’ crisp (double consonant). Do not confuse it with ‘to ittemo’ (even if I go).
🧠 Memory Tips
Think of it as ‘I said [X], but don’t get the wrong idea; it’s actually [Y].’
Other Grammar
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