Grammar Info

N3 Lesson 3: 13/22

と言(い)ってもAlthough ~ might say that ~

Structure

Verb + と言(い)っても
［い］Adjective + と言(い)っても
［な］Adjective + （だ） + と言(い)っても
Noun + （だ） + と言(い)っても

Details

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About ～と言っても

As a construction that combines と言(い)う (presenting the previous statement as a quotation) and ても, meaning 'even if (A)', or 'even though (A)', と言(い)っても will mean 'even if I say (A)', or 'although I say (A)'. This expression is used when the speaker wants to highlight (A), but draw the listener's attention to (B), in order to clarify something.

This expression may be used after any word in almost any tense, due to the case marking particle と is being used in its quotation role. However, な-Adjectives and nouns will sometimes be followed by だ (although it is regularly omitted).

Fun Fact

言(い)う is a う - Verb that focuses on what can be said about something, rather than specifically what one person is saying. Due to this, if no speaker is identified with が, then と言(い)っても could mean 'although some might say (A)', or 'even though it is said that (A)'.

  • 危険(きけん)と言(い)ってもおかしくない。
    Although some might say that it is dangerous, it's not that strange. (It is safe to say that it is dangerous)
  • 難(むずか)しいと言(い)っても、実際(じっさい)にやってみると意外(いがい)と簡単(かんたん)です。
    Even though it is said that it is difficult, once you actually try it, it is quite easy.

Examples

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    プレゼントと言(い)っても、たいしたものはない。

    Although I say that it is a present, it is nothing special.

    あなたは天才(てんさい)だと言(い)っても過言(かごん)ではない。

    Even if someone says you are a genius, it is not an exaggeration.

    先生(せんせい)って言(い)っても、いろんな人(ひと)がいるよね。

    Although you may say 'sensei,' there are different people (types of sensei).

    楽(たの)しいって言(い)っても、サッカーの方(ほう)が楽(たの)しいと思(おも)う。

    Although you might say it is fun, soccer is more fun.

    ほしいって言(い)っても、高(たか)くて自分(じぶん)では買(か)えません。

    Although I might say I want it, it is expensive and I can't buy it for myself.

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～と言っても – Grammar Discussion

Most Recent Replies (9 in total)

  • Pablunpro

    Pablunpro

    おはようございます

    I was studying this lesson (N3 lesson 3: 13/22 nowadays), and found that ‘何と言ってもなんといっても’ is a set expression with its own meaning: after all is said and done; no matter what people say; in the end.

    Could it be included as a Fun Fact at the end of the lesson, as it seems a quite useful expression?

    Thank you so much for your consideration.

  • pzarzuela

    pzarzuela

    Hi, this is my first time using this and i’m very glad to found it. ^-^

    I have a question about the second example in this grammar point.

    「辛いといってもピリ辛だから、あなたでも食べれると思うよ」

    I think that this “食べれる” might be “食べられる”, but i’m not really sure. I don’t know if it is possible to say this in informal context.

    PD: sorry for my English mistakes :S

  • Pablunpro

    Pablunpro

    Hi!

    It is indeed the potential form of the ichidan verb 食べる, 食べられる.

    However, you can find it as 食べれる due to a practice called ら抜き(言葉), pulling out ら.

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