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JLPT N3 · Sentence patterns

といっても (to ittemo)

といっても — “although I say ～ / that said”

In short · Plain form + といっても first states a claim, then qualifies it by saying the actual level is smaller or lower than the listener may imagine: “although I say ～, in fact ….” The speaker corrects a possible wrong impression.
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Pattern

  • 普通形 ＋ といっても、〜 plain form + といっても (できるといっても)
  • 名詞 ＋ といっても、〜 noun + といっても (旅行といっても)

Meaning and connection

The first clause is what people may take from the word, and the second clause tells the real situation. 料理ができるといっても、卵焼きぐらいです. With a noun or na-adjective, だ is dropped: 旅行といっても.

What follows

The second half usually shows a small amount or limited degree: ぐらい, だけ, ほど, ほんの少し. It lowers the listener's expectation.

Difference from が / けれど

Plain が or けれど only contrasts two facts. といっても specially picks out the word just said and limits its meaning. It is also used when being modest.

Examples

  • 料理（りょうり）ができるといっても、卵焼（たまごや）きぐらいです。

    Ryōri ga dekiru to itte mo, tamagoyaki gurai desu.

    I say I can cook, but it's only omelets or so.

  • 庭（にわ）があるといっても、猫（ねこ）の額（ひたい）ほどの広（ひろ）さだ。

    Niwa ga aru to itte mo, neko no hitai hodo no hirosa da.

    We have a garden, but it's tiny, the size of a cat's forehead.

  • 旅行（りょこう）といっても、隣（となり）の町（まち）に一泊（いっぱく）しただけだ。

    Ryokō to itte mo, tonari no machi ni ippaku shita dake da.

    I call it a trip, but I only stayed one night in the next town.

Common mistakes

  • The second half should limit or reduce the first. A sentence that strengthens it, such as 料理ができるといっても、とても上手です, is unnatural.
  • Do not leave だ before と with a noun: 旅行だといっても is less natural than 旅行といっても.

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