と言っても
Although ~ might say that ~
Structure
［い］Adjective + と言っても
［な］Adjective + （だ） + と言っても
Noun + （だ） + と言っても
Explanation
と言っても is formed from と言う, which quotes the preceding phrase, and ても, which means 'even if' or 'although'. This creates the meaning 'although one might say (A)' or 'even if I say (A)'. It is used to present an initial idea (A), only to follow it up with a more accurate or nuanced statement (B) that corrects the listener's potential misunderstanding.
Because the case marking particle と functions in its quotation capacity here, this grammar can follow nearly any word or tense. When used with な-Adjectives and nouns, だ is often included for clarity, though it may also be left out.
- 日本語が話せると言っても、簡単な挨拶だけです。Although I say I can speak Japanese, it's really just simple greetings.
- 安いと言っても、一万円はしますから、よく考えてくださいね。Even though I say it's cheap, it's still 10,000 yen, so please give it some careful thought.
- この町は便利だと言っても、スーパーが一つしかありません。Although I say this town is convenient, there's only one supermarket.
- 休みだと言っても、家で仕事をしなければなりません。Although I say it's a day off, I have to do work at home.
Fun Fact
言う is a う-Verb that can refer to the general act of saying, not just a specific person's speech. Because of this, when a speaker isn't specified with が, と言っても can convey a broader meaning like 'although it is said that (A)' or 'even if people say (A)'.
- 金持ちと言っても、本当は借金がたくさんあるらしい。Although he's said to be rich, I hear he actually has a lot of debt.
- 安全と言っても、夜に一人で歩くのはやめたほうがいい。Even though people say it's safe, you probably shouldn't walk around alone at night.
Examples
料理と言っても、目玉焼きぐらいしか作れない。
Although I say I can cook, I can really only make fried eggs.
旅行って言っても、隣の町への日帰りだよ。
Although you might call it a trip, it was just a day trip to the next town over.
勝ったと言っても、点差はわずか１点だった。
Even though we won, it was only by a single point.
このアパートは新しいと言っても、建てられてからもう5年になる。
Although you could say this apartment is new, it was actually built five years ago.
この辺は静かだと言っても、夜はバイクの音がうるさい。
Although one might say this area is quiet, it gets noisy at night with motorcycles.
駅から近いって言っても、歩いたら１５分はかかる。
Although you might say it's close to the station, it still takes a good 15 minutes to walk.
割引と言っても、たったの１００円しか安くならない。
Although they call it a discount, it's only 100 yen cheaper.
日本語が話せると言っても、日常会話レベルです。
Although I say I can speak Japanese, it's only at a conversational level.
彼の部屋はきれいだって言っても、クローゼットの中はぐちゃぐちゃだよ。
Even if you say his room is clean, the inside of his closet is a total mess.
全部食べたと言っても、最後の一口は残してしまった。
Although I say I ate everything, I did leave the last bite.
このパソコンは安いと言っても、学生の私には手が出せない。
Even though one might say this computer is cheap, for a student like me, it's out of reach.
夏と言っても、まだ朝晩は涼しいですね。
Although we say it's summer, the mornings and evenings are still cool, aren't they?