Posted inN3 Grammar

Mastering といっても (To Ittemo): Adding Nuance and Qualification in Japanese

Posted inN3 Grammar
Japanese Grammar Template
Meaning & Usage

✨ Basic Meaning

Although one says X; Even though X; Having said that; However

🎯 Primary Function

To qualify or slightly contradict a preceding statement, indicating that the statement is true but only to a certain extent or with limitations.

📋 Grammar Structure

[Verb (plain form)] + といっても [い-adjective (plain form)] + といっても [な-adjective (plain form)] + といっても (often adds だ, e.g., 静かだといっても) [Noun] + といっても (often adds だ, e.g., 学生だといっても)

🎭 Usage Contexts

🏢 Formal Situations

Can be used, but the preceding phrase’s formality matters. Often follows plain forms even in somewhat formal contexts.

😊 Informal Situations

Very commonly used.

✍️ Written Language

Frequently appears in articles, essays, and less formal writing.

🗣️ Spoken Language

Very common in daily conversation.

💡 Common Applications

Introducing a moderate contradiction or limitation.
Used when you state something, but then want to add a condition or a point that slightly goes against the initial statement, making it less absolute.
Example: 日本語が話せます。といっても、簡単な挨拶だけですが… (I can speak Japanese. Having said that, it’s only simple greetings…)
Reducing the impact of a previous statement.
When the previous statement might create an exaggerated impression, といっても is used to scale it back to a more realistic level.
Example: たくさん勉強しました。といっても、昨日の夜だけですけど。(I studied a lot. Although I say that, it was only last night…)
Adding a condition or exception.
Similar to limitation, it adds a specific condition under which the previous statement applies, or an exception to it.
Example: 週末は暇です。といっても、土曜日は少し用事があります。(I’m free on the weekend. That said, I have a little errand on Saturday.)
📊
Frequency
Very common in daily conversation and writing among native speakers.
🎚️
Difficulty
Intermediate (N3)
Example Sentences
日本語は難しいです。といっても、漢字が一番難しいと思います。
Japanese is difficult. Even so, I think kanji are the most difficult.
彼は料理が得意です。といっても、作れるのは卵焼きだけですが。
He’s good at cooking. Although I say that, all he can make is tamagoyaki.
この本は安かったです。といっても、中古ですから。
This book was cheap. Having said that, it’s because it’s secondhand.
Notes & Nuances

📌 Important Points

It follows the plain form.
Always connect といっても to the plain form (普通形) of the preceding verb, i-adjective, na-adjective, or noun. For na-adjectives and nouns, “だ” is often included before といっても, especially in slightly more formal or explanatory contexts, but can be omitted in casual speech.
Example: 忙しいといっても、休憩する時間はあります。(Even though I say I’m busy, I have time to take a break.) – correct 忙しいですといっても… – incorrect (uses ます form)
Expresses a partial truth or limitation.
Use といっても when the preceding statement is true, but not entirely or in its fullest sense. It limits or qualifies the statement.
Example: お金持ちです。といっても、家を買えるほどではありません。(I’m rich. Having said that, not rich enough to buy a house.) – The first statement is true to some extent, but limited.

⚠️ Common Mistakes

❌ Connecting to the ます form.
✅ Always use the plain form before といっても.
といっても connects to the plain form (普通形), not the polite ます/です form.
❌ Using it for a strong contradiction.
✅ For strong contradictions, use particles like けど, が, けれど, or conjunctions like しかし, ですが.
といっても implies a qualification or limitation, not a complete opposition to the preceding statement.

🏛️ Cultural Context

Politeness Level: Relatively neutral. The politeness is determined by the preceding phrase and the overall sentence.
Social Situations: Widely used in various social situations.
Regional Variations: No significant regional variations.

🔍 Subtle Differences

といっても vs. けれど/が (but/although)
といっても focuses on *qualifying* or *limiting* the preceding statement, suggesting it’s true only to a degree. けれど/が introduce a contrasting or slightly unexpected point.
When to use: Use といっても when you want to reduce the impact or specify the scope of the first part. Use けれど/が for introducing a simple contrast or additional information that slightly goes against the first part.
といっても vs. ただし (however/provided that)
ただし introduces a specific condition, exception, or addendum, often in more formal or written contexts, acting like a separate note. といっても is more integrated into the flow of speech/writing and implies a subjective qualification.
When to use: Use ただし for formal exceptions or conditions. Use といっても for conversational qualifications or to moderate a statement.
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📝 Conjugation Notes

Always connect to the plain form (普通形): – Verbs: 食べる、食べた、食べない、食べなかった + といっても – い-adjectives: 暑い、暑かった、暑くない、暑くなかった + といっても – な-adjectives: 静かだ、静かだった、静かではない、静かじゃなかった (+ だ) + といっても – Nouns: 学生だ、学生だった、学生ではない、学生じゃなかった (+ だ) + といっても (Note: だ can often be omitted for na-adjectives/nouns in casual speech)

🔊 Pronunciation Tips

Pronounced “to it-te-mo”. The “t” sound is a single consonant. The “e” in “tte” is often slightly reduced but still pronounced.

🧠 Memory Tips

Think of it as “Even if (someone/I) say [the previous statement], it’s only like THIS…” or “Although I said that, the reality is limited.” Visualize it as drawing a circle (the initial statement) and then using といっても to add a smaller circle or a restriction within it.

Practice Exercises
このアパートは駅から近いです。といっても、＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿。
歩いて３０分かかります。
歩いて３分かかります。
とても便利です。
家賃が高いです。
A: 映画、見た？ B: うん、見たよ。 A: どうだった？ B: 面白かったよ。といっても、＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿。
３時間もあったから少し疲れた。
もう一度見たいと思った。
友達と一緒だったから楽しかった。
話の内容はあまり覚えていない。
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