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 格助詞(かくじょし) (case marking particle) と is being used in its 引用(いんよう) ‘citation’ role. However,
な-Adjectives and nouns will sometimes be followed by
だ (although it is regularly omitted).
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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.
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)’.
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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.