Grammar Info

N1 Lesson 9: 10/20

とは言(い)うものの

Although, But, Although I say, Although it is said, Having said that

Structure

Verb + とは言(い)うものの + Phrase
［い］Adjective + とは言う(い)ものの + Phrase
［な］Adjective + （だ）+ とは言(い)うものの + Phrase
Noun + （だ）+ とは言(い)うものの + Phrase
Phrase (A)。とは言(い)うものの + Phrase (B)

Details

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About とは言うものの

とは言(い)うものの is a set expression that may be used after most types of words, it is a combination of と as a case-marking particle, は as an adverbial particle, the う-Verb 言(い)う, and the conjunction particle ものの 'although'. Its literal translation of 'although it is said that (A), (B)' is the same as how it will usually be interpreted in English.
When used after either nouns or な-Adjectives, だ will precede とは言(い)うものの.
  • なんでも頑張(がんば)れば必(かなら)ずできるようになるとはいうものの、どれだけ頑張(がんば)ってもできないことはある。
    Although it is said that you will be able to do something if you try your best, there are things that can't be done no matter how much you try.
  • 今(いま)働(はたら)いている会社(かいしゃ)の給料(きゅうりょう)はいいとはいうものの、お金(かね)を使(つか)う時間(じかん)がない。
    Although the pay at my current company is good, I don't have any time to use my money.
  • スマホは便利(べんり)だというものの、使(つか)い方(かた)がわからないとスマホの便利(べんり)さをしれきれない。
    Although it is said that smartphones are useful, if you don't know how to use them, you can't fully appreciate their usefulness.
  • 彼(かれ)は学生(がくせい)だというものの、バイトばかりしていて勉強(べんきょう)についていけていない。
    Although he is a student, he is falling behind with his studies because he works a lot.
This phrase may also be used at the beginning of sentences when acknowledging a statement that was made, but then pointing out that there is other important information as well. In all cases, the (B) phrase that comes after ものの will be considered the important or defining detail.

Examples

  • 数学(すうがく)は時間(じかん)の無駄(むだ)だとは言(い)うものの、やはり基本(きほん)を知(し)る価値(かち)だってある。

    Although it is said that math is a waste of time, actually, learning the basics still has its value.

  • 彼(かれ)はホラー作家(さっか)として知(し)られているとは言(い)うものの、傑作(けっさく)と言(い)えるものは1982年(ねん)に出版(しゅっぱん)された犯罪(はんざい)小説(しょうせつ)だ。

    Although he is known as a horror author, what can be called his masterpiece is actually a crime novel that was published in 1982.

  • チェコの「ストラホフ・スタジアム」は「世界(せかい)最大(さいだい)のスポーツスタジアム」とは言(い)うものの、実際(じっさい)にはスポーツ目的(もくてき)にはほとんど使(つか)われていない。

    Although the Czech 'Strahov Stadium' is said to be the 'world's largest sports stadium', in practice it is hardly used for sports purposes.

  • このカフェは人気(にんき)が高(たか)いとは言(い)うものの、実際(じっさい)には知(し)る人(ひと)ぞ知(し)る所(ところ)だ。

    Although I say that this coffeehouse is popular, actually that's limited to the people that know the place.

    知る人ぞ知る is a set phrase meaning that something is only known among the few people that are 'in the know'.

  • それは「人工(じんこう)知能(ちのう)」とは言(い)うものの、まだ「知能(ちのう)」というよりも「コンピューター」に近(ちか)いものだ。

    Although that is called 'artificial intelligence', it is still closer to a 'computer' than actual 'intelligence'.

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