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

  • Register

    Standard

  • 使用域

    一般

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).
  • 毎日(まいにち)走(はし)ると言(い)っても、15分(ふん)しか走(はし)らないよ。
    Although I say I run every day, I only run for 15 minutes.
  • 辛(から)いと言(い)ってもピリ辛(から)だから、あなたでも食(た)べれると思(おも)うよ。
    Even though I say it is spicy, it is only slightly spicy, so I think you should be able to eat it.
  • この肉(にく)は新鮮(しんせん)だと言(い)っても、3日(か)前(まえ)に買(か)ったからそんなに新鮮(しんせん)ではない。
    Although I say this meat is fresh, I bought it 3 days ago, so it is not that fresh.
  • 新幹線(しんかんせん)だと言(い)ってもこだまに乗(の)るから、そんなに早(はや)く着(つ)かないと思(おも)う。
    Although I say I'm going by shinkansen, I will be riding the Kodama, so I don't think I will get there that fast.
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

  • 魚釣(さかなつ)りが趣味(しゅみ)と言(い)っても、実(じつ)は得意(とくい)ではない。

    Although I say that my hobby is fishing, to be honest, I am not good at it.

  • 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.

  • 泳(およ)ぐのが好(す)きだと言(い)っても、平(ひら)泳(およ)ぎしかできないんだけどね。

    Although I might say that I like swimming, I can't do anything but the breaststroke.

  • 僕(ぼく)の鞄(かばん)は重(おも)いと言(い)っても、君(きみ)のはもっと重(おも)い。

    Although I say that my bag is heavy, yours is heavier.

  • この問題(もんだい)は簡単(かんたん)だと言(い)っても、解(と)くのに時間(じかん)はかかる。

    Although I might say that this problem is easy, it will still take time to solve.

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～と言っても – Grammar Discussion

Most Recent Replies (7 in total)

  • mrnoone

    mrnoone

    @Cawotte

    Hey and thank you!
    We are aware of the issue and will do something with it soon

    Cheers!

  • febLey

    febLey

    Hey,

    I just realized that this grammar point is missing from the Tobira path, although it lists Tobira page 219 under ressources. It should be right before the last item (思うように) in Chapter 9.

  • 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.

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