といえども (日本語能力試験 N1)

「といえども」の情報

といえども is a combination of the case-marking particle と, the hypothetical form of 言(い)う, 言(い)え, and the conjunction particle ども, which is used in much the same way as けれども, or ても. Due to this, despite the more literal translation of 'even if one were to say (A)', it is usually translated simply as 'even if (A)', or 'although (A)'.
といえども will be seen following nouns, い-Adjectives, or verbs in any of their standard form.

いくらお金(かね)に困(こま)っているといえども、闇金(やみきん)には絶対(ぜったい)手(て)を出(だ)さないよ。
Even if I was really troubled about money, there is no way I would turn to a loan shark.
前(まえ)は一回(いっかい)で成功(せいこう)したといえども、毎回(まいかい)一回(いっかい)で成功(せいこう)できる訳(わけ)ではない。
Even though we were able to succeed before on our first try, that doesn't mean that we can succeed in one try every time.
彼女(かのじょ)がどれだけ優(やさ)しいといえども、そんなことばかりやってたら別(わか)れられるぞ。
Even though she is super nice, if you keep doing such things she is going to break up with you.
たとえ犯罪者(はんざいしゃ)といえども、動物(どうぶつ)みたいに扱(あつか)ってはいけない。
Even if they are criminals, you must not treat them like animals.

といえども may also follow な-Adjectives, but だ will precede といえども in these cases.

運転(うんてん)が上手(じょうず)だといえども、シートベルトは必(かなら)ず着用(ちゃくよう)しなくてはならない。
Even if you are good at driving, you must wear a seatbelt.
いくら有名(ゆうめい)だといえども、なんでも好(す)き勝手(かって)やっていいと言(い)うことではない。
Even if you are famous, it doesn't mean that you can just do whatever you wish.

Despite the nuance being slightly different, といえども can be thought of as a very old-fashioned way of saying といっても. Due to といえども being old-fashioned, it is often used for emphasis and will frequently be paired with expressions like いくら, いかに, どんなに, etc.

Fun Fact

Although very rarely used, sometimes いえども is seen as 雖(いえど)も. In these cases the kanji 雖(いえど), which means 'however', is simply paired with も. This creates a slight difference between 'however even (A)', and the more modern 'even if one were to say (A)'. Despite this, the meanings are used interchangeably in modern times.

例文

手術(しゅじゅつ)中(ちゅう)は一瞬(いっしゅん)といえど気(き)が抜(ぬ)けない。
During an operation you cannot lose focus, not even for a second.
This can be used to put more emphasis on negation, often as 「1 + counter」 meaning 'not even one ...'.
弁護(べんご)のためといえども、暴漢(ぼうかん)を撃(う)つべきではないという意見(いけん)もある。
There are also opinions that one should not shoot a hoodlum, even in self-defense.
不況(ふきょう)下(か)で損失(そんしつ)が出(で)ているといえども、我(わ)が社(しゃ)は遅滞(ちたい)無(な)く給与(きゅうよ)を支払(しはら)う。
Even when taking losses during a recession our company pays salaries without delay.
たとえ囚人(しゅうじん)といえどもときどき刑務所(けいむしょ)を出(で)ることができる。
Even a prisoner can leave prison from time to time.
ヒジカタが恐(おそ)るべしといえども、スギモトの敵(てき)ではない。
Even though Hijikata is incredible, he is no match for Sugimoto.
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